<p>literally, it is 街谈巷语. But nobody will speak this word any more, it is only used in the article.</p>

<p>When chinese people talk a rumor, they usually use 听说. This word means "I heard", especially for rumor.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-15T00:36:31.967Z
2012-03-15T00:36:31.967Z
chenyi1976
<p>I guess 小道消息 or 坊间传闻 is closest. Others include 流言、流言蜚语、谣言。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-14T19:15:18.937Z
2012-03-14T19:15:18.937Z
Feng Jiang
<p>傳聞 is the word you are looking for! ;)</p>

<p>It is widely used in mass media, to regular chatting as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-17T04:02:19.537Z
2012-03-17T04:02:19.537Z
Derek 朕會功夫
<p>The word on the street"： 东家长西家短.   rumors:"闲言碎语， 流言蜚语，街头传闻"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-30T13:22:51.913Z
2012-03-30T13:22:51.913Z
Jane
<p>I heard a different but similar phrase on a Chinese TV show. </p>

<p>It was: "你们听到什么风声？”</p>

<p>Pleco translates it into "the sough of the wind" or "rumour".</p>

<p>Sough apparently means "rustling" or "murmuring" in English.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-18T06:26:36.297Z
"你们听到什么风声" is used among spies and detectives in war movies. 走漏风声 (a 成语) means leaking out information.
gonnastop
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-18T03:55:31.110Z
2012-03-18T03:55:31.110Z
aelephant
<ol>
<li><p>"流言" (liú yán)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>一时间 <b>流言</b> 四起,亚洲陷入困境,资金加速流出,这些国家的本土银行纷纷倒闭。</p>
  
  <p><em>Once the <strong>rumor</strong> got started that Asia was in trouble, these people started withdrawing their money faster and faster and it caused failures of domestic banks in these countries.</em></p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>"谣言" (yáo yán)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>布莱尔，如果你真的,编造了丹·汉弗瑞和那个老师的 <b>谣言</b> ，她可以告你诽谤。</p>
  
  <p><em>Blair,if you started that <strong>rumor</strong> About Dan Humphrey and the teacher, She has a legitimate case for slander.</em></p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>"小道消息" (xiǎo dào xiāo xī)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这些 <b>小道消息</b> 被当作一派胡言而一笑置之。</p>
  
  <p><em>These <strong>rumors</strong> are regarded as nonsense and laugh at them.</em></p>
</blockquote></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T08:01:12.917Z
Hi there! Welcome!  Do you think you could expand on that answer a little?  When are those expressions used? How common are they?  Thanks!
jsj
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T08:12:54.083Z
example:"You need to part on good terms and you don't want your boss hearing rumors of your departure through the grapevine."

“你应该妥善告诉你的上司你离职这一事情，而不是让你的上司通过 流言 得知这一事实。”
fanzhang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T08:37:19.963Z
"I think it would be better for both of us If we put those rumors to rest once and for all.
" “这对我们二者都好,让这些 谣言 永埋尘土。”
fanzhang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T08:37:56.713Z
"So he starts spreading rumors that he is divine himself."
“于是他开始散播 谣言 ，说自己是神。”
fanzhang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T09:38:16.823Z
@fanzhang - Can you please edit your question and add some easy to understand examples and some explanation in English.
going
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T16:13:36.770Z
+1 for the interesting examples! You could put those in your "answer" to make it more complete!
gonnastop
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-22T02:38:32.377Z
2012-03-23T09:34:03.047Z
2012-03-23T09:34:03.047Z
fanzhang
<p>"The word on the street" is an English idiom that basically means "rumors". </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The word on the street is that Bob's going to be fired.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I was wondering if there was a similar Chinese idiom.</p>

<idioms>
Chinese version of the idiom "The word on the street"
# Chinese version of the idiom "The word on the street"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-03-14)

"The word on the street" is an English idiom that basically means "rumors".

> The word on the street is that Bob's going to be fired.

I was wondering if there was a similar Chinese idiom.

**Tags:** idioms

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2012-03-22. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

1. "流言" (liú yán)

   > 一时间 **流言** 四起,亚洲陷入困境,资金加速流出,这些国家的本土银行纷纷倒闭。
   >
   > *Once the **rumor** got started that Asia was in trouble, these people started withdrawing their money faster and faster and it caused failures of domestic banks in these countries.*
2. "谣言" (yáo yán)

   > 布莱尔，如果你真的,编造了丹·汉弗瑞和那个老师的 **谣言** ，她可以告你诽谤。
   >
   > *Blair,if you started that **rumor** About Dan Humphrey and the teacher, She has a legitimate case for slander.*
3. "小道消息" (xiǎo dào xiāo xī)

   > 这些 **小道消息** 被当作一派胡言而一笑置之。
   >
   > *These **rumors** are regarded as nonsense and laugh at them.*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hi there! Welcome!  Do you think you could expand on that answer a little?  When are those expressions used? How common are they?  Thanks!  
> **username_7**: example:"You need to part on good terms and you don't want your boss hearing rumors of your departure through the grapevine."  “你应该妥善告诉你的上司你离职这一事情，而不是让你的上司通过 流言 得知这一事实。”  
> **username_7**: "I think it would be better for both of us If we put those rumors to rest once and for all. " “这对我们二者都好,让这些 谣言 永埋尘土。”  
> **username_7**: "So he starts spreading rumors that he is divine himself." “于是他开始散播 谣言 ，说自己是神。”  
> **username_8**: @fanzhang - Can you please edit your question and add some easy to understand examples and some explanation in English.  
> **username_6**: +1 for the interesting examples! You could put those in your "answer" to make it more complete!  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-03-15. Score: 5

literally, it is 街谈巷语. But nobody will speak this word any more, it is only used in the article.

When chinese people talk a rumor, they usually use 听说. This word means "I heard", especially for rumor.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-03-14. Score: 4

I guess 小道消息 or 坊间传闻 is closest. Others include 流言、流言蜚语、谣言。


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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-03-17. Score: 1

傳聞 is the word you are looking for! ;)

It is widely used in mass media, to regular chatting as well.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-03-30. Score: 0

The word on the street"： 东家长西家短. rumors:"闲言碎语， 流言蜚语，街头传闻"


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### Answer by username_5 on 2012-03-18. Score: 0

I heard a different but similar phrase on a Chinese TV show.

It was: "你们听到什么风声？”

Pleco translates it into "the sough of the wind" or "rumour".

Sough apparently means "rustling" or "murmuring" in English.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: "你们听到什么风声" is used among spies and detectives in war movies. 走漏风声 (a 成语) means leaking out information.  

---

