谣言

谣言 (yáoyán) refers to a piece of unverified information that spreads quickly, often through word of mouth or social media. It differs from a fact in that it lacks confirmation and can be misleading or false.

The character 谣 (yáo) originally meant a folk song or a popular saying, while 言 (yán) means speech or words. Together, they form a term that describes informal, unverified statements that circulate among people.

谣言 is commonly used in contexts involving gossip, misinformation, or urban legends. In Chinese culture, spreading rumors is often seen as irresponsible, and there are legal consequences for spreading false information that causes public unrest.