造谣

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zàoyáo: 造谣 - To Start a Rumor, To Fabricate a Lie

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: zaoyao, zàoyáo, 造谣, start a rumor in Chinese, fabricate a lie, spread rumors, Chinese word for fake news, disinformation, defamation in Chinese, Chinese law on rumors
  • Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 造谣 (zàoyáo), which means to deliberately create and spread a false rumor or fabricated story. More than just simple gossip, 造谣 implies a malicious act of manufacturing lies and is treated as a serious social and even criminal offense in China, often linked to the concept of “fake news” or disinformation. This page explores its cultural significance, legal implications, and practical use in modern conversation and on the internet.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zàoyáo
  • Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object compound)
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To create and spread a false rumor or fabricated story with malicious intent.
  • In a Nutshell: 造谣 (zàoyáo) is a strong, negative term that goes far beyond idle gossip. It describes the act of being “patient zero” for a harmful lie. Think of it as manufacturing a falsehood from thin air with the specific goal of deceiving people or damaging someone's reputation. It is an active, deliberate, and serious accusation.

Character Breakdown

  • 造 (zào): To create, to make, to build, or to fabricate. Imagine building something from raw materials—in this case, building a lie.
  • 谣 (yáo): Rumor or an unsubstantiated story. The left part of the character, 言 (yán), is the radical for “speech,” indicating this word is related to something spoken or communicated.
  • Together, 造谣 (zàoyáo) literally translates to “to fabricate a rumor.” The combination emphasizes the act of creation, highlighting that the person isn't just passing along a story they heard, but is the original author of the lie.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, maintaining social harmony and stability (社会稳定, shèhuì wěndìng) is a paramount value. 造谣 (zàoyáo) is seen as a direct threat to this stability because false rumors can cause public panic, social unrest, or damage to reputations, disrupting the collective order.
  • Comparison with “Slander/Libel”: While 造谣 has similarities to the Western legal concepts of slander (spoken) and libel (written), there's a key difference in focus. In the West, slander is primarily a civil issue between two parties, concerning damage to an individual's reputation. In China, while that aspect exists, 造谣 can escalate into a criminal offense against public security. If a rumor is viewed or shared a certain number of times online (e.g., 5,000 views or 500 reposts) and is deemed disruptive, the creator can face jail time. This reflects a state-level concern for information control and preventing social panic, a much broader scope than individual-vs-individual defamation.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • On the Internet: This term is rampant on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo. Users frequently accuse others of 造谣 to discredit their claims. The government also uses it officially to label what it considers “fake news” or harmful online content. You will often see official slogans like “不信谣，不传谣 (bù xìn yáo, bù chuán yáo)” – “Don't believe rumors, don't spread rumors.”
  • Legal Context: 造谣 (zàoyáo) is a legal term. A person can be charged with the crime of 造谣诽谤 (zàoyáo fěibàng), or “fabricating rumors and slander.” News reports about someone being detained for online activities will almost always use this term.
  • Connotation and Formality: The connotation is exclusively negative and carries a heavy weight. It is a serious accusation. It can be used in both formal contexts (legal documents, news reports) and informal ones (arguments online or between individuals), but it's never a light-hearted word.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 别听他的，他最会造谣了。
    • Pinyin: Bié tīng tā de, tā zuì huì zàoyáo le.
    • English: Don't listen to him, he's an expert at starting rumors.
    • Analysis: A common, informal usage. This sentence accuses someone of being a habitual liar or rumor-monger.
  • Example 2:
    • 这家公司正在起诉那个造谣的博主。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhèngzài qǐsù nàge zàoyáo de bów主.
    • English: The company is suing the blogger who fabricated the rumors.
    • Analysis: Shows how 造谣 is used in a legal or commercial dispute. The verb is used here to describe the blogger's action.
  • Example 3:
    • 警方提醒市民，不要在网上传播或造谣。
    • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng tíxǐng shìmín, bùyào zài wǎngshàng chuánbò huò zàoyáo.
    • English: The police are reminding citizens not to spread or create rumors online.
    • Analysis: This is a typical official announcement, demonstrating the term's formal and legal weight. Note the distinction made between “spreading” (传播 chuánbò) and “creating” (造谣).
  • Example 4:
    • 关于疫情的很多信息都是被造谣出来的。
    • Pinyin: Guānyú yìqíng de hěnduō xìnxī dōu shì bèi zàoyáo chūlái de.
    • English: A lot of information about the epidemic was fabricated through rumors.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive structure 被 (bèi) to emphasize that the information was the victim of rumor-mongering.
  • Example 5:
    • 他因为造谣说学校要倒闭而被开除了。
    • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zàoyáo shuō xuéxiào yào dǎobì ér bèi kāichú le.
    • English: He was expelled for starting a rumor that the school was going to close down.
    • Analysis: Shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship for the act of 造谣, highlighting its serious consequences.
  • Example 6:
    • 停止造谣中伤我的朋友！
    • Pinyin: Tíngzhǐ zàoyáo zhòngshāng wǒ de péngyǒu!
    • English: Stop fabricating rumors to slander my friend!
    • Analysis: A forceful, imperative command. The phrase 造谣中伤 (zàoyáo zhòngshāng) means “to fabricate rumors and maliciously injure” someone's reputation.
  • Example 7:
    • 这个新闻一看就是假的，肯定是有人故意造谣。
    • Pinyin: Zhège xīnwén yī kàn jiùshì jiǎ de, kěndìng shì yǒurén gùyì zàoyáo.
    • English: You can tell this news is fake at a glance; someone must be intentionally starting rumors.
    • Analysis: This reflects a common sentiment among modern internet users who are skeptical of online information. 故意 (gùyì) emphasizes the malicious intent.
  • Example 8:
    • 造谣一张嘴，辟谣跑断腿。
    • Pinyin: Zàoyáo yī zhāng zuǐ, pìyáo pǎo duàn tuǐ.
    • English: It takes only a mouth to start a rumor, but it takes running your legs off to refute it. (A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.)
    • Analysis: A popular Chinese saying that vividly illustrates how much easier it is to create a lie than to disprove one. 辟谣 (pìyáo) is the antonym: to refute a rumor.
  • Example 9:
    • 他造谣说老板贪污，结果自己被警察带走了。
    • Pinyin: Tā zàoyáo shuō lǎobǎn tānwū, jiéguǒ zìjǐ bèi jǐngchá dài zǒu le.
    • English: He fabricated a rumor that the boss was corrupt, and as a result, he himself was taken away by the police.
    • Analysis: A clear example of the potential legal consequences of 造谣 in China.
  • Example 10:
    • 面对竞争对手的造谣，我们必须立刻发布官方声明。
    • Pinyin: Miànduì jìngzhēng duìshǒu de zàoyáo, wǒmen bìxū lìkè fābù guānfāng shēngmíng.
    • English: Facing the rumors fabricated by our competitor, we must immediately issue an official statement.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates the term's use in a corporate or public relations context. Here, 造谣 is used almost like a noun: “the act of rumor-mongering.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `造谣 (zàoyáo)` vs. `传谣 (chuányáo)`: This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    • 造谣 (zàoyáo): To create the rumor. You are the source.
    • 传谣 (chuányáo): To spread or transmit a rumor you heard from somewhere else.
    • Incorrect: 我听了一个谣言，然后我就去造谣了。 (Wǒ tīngle yíge yáoyán, ránhòu wǒ jiù qù zàoyáo le.) → This is wrong because it says “I heard a rumor, and then I created it.”
    • Correct: 我听了一个谣言，然后我就去传谣了。 (Wǒ tīngle yíge yáoyán, ránhòu wǒ jiù qù chuányáo le.) → “I heard a rumor, and then I spread it.”
  • `造谣 (zàoyáo)` vs. “Gossip” (闲话, xiánhuà): Do not use 造谣 for light, everyday gossip. 造谣 implies a serious, fabricated lie with intent to harm. Gossip (闲话) can be trivial, harmless, and sometimes even true. Accusing someone of 造谣 is a major escalation compared to accusing them of gossiping.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 传谣 (chuányáo) - To spread a rumor. The act that follows 造谣.
  • 辟谣 (pìyáo) - To refute a rumor; to debunk. The direct antonym of creating/spreading rumors.
  • 谣言 (yáoyán) - A rumor (noun). This is the product created by the verb 造谣.
  • 诽谤 (fěibàng) - Slander; defamation. A more formal and legalistic term, often paired with 造谣.
  • 假新闻 (jiǎ xīnwén) - Fake news. The modern term for the type of information produced by 造谣 on a large scale.
  • 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “to create something from nothing.” It perfectly describes the essence of 造谣.
  • 流言蜚语 (liúyán fēiyǔ) - A chengyu for “rumors and slanderous gossip.” It's a more literary way to describe the general atmosphere of rumors.
  • 社会稳定 (shèhuì wěndìng) - Social stability. The core cultural value that the act of 造谣 is considered a threat to in China.