風評(ふうひょう)

ふうひょう
noun
rumor; reputation; hearsay
formalcommunication
1. rumor; reputation; hearsay; public perception
Unverified information or public perception about something, often negative. Frequently used in the compound 風評被害 (reputational damage), referring to economic harm caused by rumors rather than actual risk.
風評(ふうひょう)に惑(まど)わされてはいけない。
You shouldn't be misled by rumors.
風評(ふうひょう)被害(ひがい)で農家(のうか)の売(う)り上(あ)げが落(お)ちた。
Sales for farmers dropped due to reputational damage.
正確(せいかく)な情報(じょうほう)を発信(はっしん)して風評(ふうひょう)の拡大(かくだい)を防(ふせ)ぐことが大切(たいせつ)だ。
It's important to disseminate accurate information to prevent the spread of rumors.

Usage

風評(ふうひょう) carries a negative nuance and implies information that may be inaccurate or exaggerated. The compound 風評(ふうひょう)被害(ひがい) (reputational damage) became widely known after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, when produce from the region was avoided despite being safe.

Common collocations

Similar words

噂(うわさ) is the everyday word for rumor, used in casual speech. 風評(ふうひょう) is more formal and often implies broader public perception or media-driven reputation.

Related Words

Synonym: 噂(うわさ) (rumor, everyday term)
Compare: 流言(りゅうげん) (rumor)
general
Added 2026.3.12 14:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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