流 言(りゅうげん)

りゅうげん

noun

rumor; false report; unfounded story

1. rumor; false report; unfounded story

an unverified story or piece of information that spreads among people, often false or exaggerated; a rumor that circulates through a community

流言(りゅうげん)に惑(まど)わされてはいけない。

You must not be misled by rumors.

災害(さいがい)の後(あと)、流言(りゅうげん)が広(ひろ)まった。

After the disaster, rumors spread.

SNSでは流言(りゅうげん)飛語(ひご)が瞬(またた)く間(ま)に拡散(かくさん)してしまう。

On social media, false rumors spread in the blink of an eye.

根拠(こんきょ)のない流言(りゅうげん)を信(しん)じて行動(こうどう)すると大(おお)きな混乱(こんらん)を招(まね)く。

If you believe and act on unfounded rumors, it will cause great confusion.

A formal, literary word for rumors that spread through a community. Often implies the information is false or harmful. Historically associated with rumors that spread during disasters, wars, and social unrest.

The four-character compound 流言(りゅうげん)飛語(ひご) (false rumors and gossip) is a very common set phrase that intensifies the meaning.

Common collocations

流言(りゅうげん)飛語(ひご): groundless rumors and gossip
流言(りゅうげん)が広(ひろ)まる: rumors spread
流言(りゅうげん)に惑(まど)わされる: to be misled by rumors
流言(りゅうげん)を打(う)ち消(け)す: to dispel rumors
流言(りゅうげん)を流(なが)す: to spread rumors

Similar words

噂(うわさ): rumor, gossip — the everyday word; neutral and much more common in daily conversation
デマ: misinformation, false rumor — from German Demagogie; emphasizes deliberate falseness
風評(ふうひょう): public rumor, reputation — often used in 風評(ふうひょう)被害(ひがい) (damage from harmful rumors)

Register

Formal and literary. Appears in news, academic writing, and historical accounts. In everyday speech, 噂(うわさ) or デマ are preferred.

Related Words

Compare: 噂(うわさ) (rumor, gossip)

Compare: デマ (misinformation, false rumor)

Compare: 風評(ふうひょう) (public rumor, reputation)

general

Added 2026.4.4 6:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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