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.

general
Added 2026.4.4 6:25
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