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诽谤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
诽谤fěibàngto slanderHSK 7, v, rank #8972, Hard
诽谤fěibàngto libelHSK 7, v, rank #8972, Hard
fěibàng(fei3bang4) T3
  1. 1to slander
  2. 2to libel
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March 24, 2026
诽谤(誹謗)fěibàng(fei3bang4)

The term 诽谤 (fěi bàng) refers to the act of making false and damaging statements about someone, typically with the intent to harm their reputation. It is often used in legal contexts, where slander entails spoken defamation, while libel refers to written or published defamation. Understanding the nuances of this word is crucial for discussing issues of reputation and legal matters in Chinese society.

Frequency#8972DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reputation is highly valued, and the consequences of 诽谤 can be severe, often leading to legal action. The concept of maintaining one's social standing is deeply rooted, reflecting the importance of honor in both personal and professional spheres.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'feisty bank' (fei3 bang4) where rumors are spread like wildfire, tarnishing the reputation of honest customers. Visualize a bank being slandered for fraud, which connects the idea of damaging someone's credibility with the sounds of the characters.

Meanings of 诽谤

fěibàng(fei3bang4)
1to slander
2to libel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 诽谤

诽谤Simplified
誹謗Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8972Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 诽谤

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Podcast: 诽谤

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AI Study Notes for 诽谤

Quick Contrast

中伤 (zhòng shāng) - choose 诽谤 (fěi bàng) when specifically referring to false statements, while 中伤 (zhòng shāng) can also imply harm through other means.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'feisty bank' (fei3 bang4) where rumors are spread like wildfire, tarnishing the reputation of honest customers. Visualize a bank being slandered for fraud, which connects the idea of damaging someone's credibility with the sounds of the characters.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 诽谤 in formal discussions, as it carries a serious connotation. Common collocations include 诽谤他人 (slander others) or 被诽谤 (be slandered). Avoid confusing it with 误解 (misunderstanding), as the intent to harm is distinct in 诽谤.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 6 word, 诽谤 connects to themes of law and ethics, which may appear in advanced texts or discussions. Students should focus on the contexts in which it appears, particularly in media and legal terminology, to build a deeper understanding of its implications.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reputation is highly valued, and the consequences of 诽谤 can be severe, often leading to legal action. The concept of maintaining one's social standing is deeply rooted, reflecting the importance of honor in both personal and professional spheres.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 诽谤 with 侮辱 (insult) or 诋毁 (denigrate), which can lead to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我诽谤了他' (I slandered him) in a casual context can be inappropriate; it should be reserved for serious accusations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 诽谤

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Component Characters

诽fěislander
10 strokes讠
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谤bàngto slander
12 strokes讠
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Write 诽谤

诽
谤

Practice writing 诽谤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 诽谤

诽谤 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

公众人物想打赢____官司可能会很难。

It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case.

Example Sentences for 诽谤 (10)

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1
公众人物想打赢诽谤官司可能会很难。

gōng zhòng rén wù xiǎng dǎ yíng fěi bàng guān sī kě néng huì hěn nán。

It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case.
2
她对该杂志提起的诽谤诉讼尚未判决。

tā duì gāi zá zhì tí qǐ de fěi bàng sù sòng shàng wèi pàn jué。

She had a libel action against the magazine pending.
3
这家报纸被罚以五十万英镑的诽谤损害赔偿金。

zhè jiā bào zhǐ bèi fá yǐ wǔ shí wàn yīng bàng de fěi bàng sǔn hài péi cháng jīn。

The paper got clobbered with libel damages of half a million pounds.
4
在诽谤诉讼中，举证责任反过来由辩方全权承担。

zài fěi bàng sù sòng zhōng， ， jǔ zhèng zé rèn fǎn guò lái yóu biàn fāng quán quán chéng。

The onus of proof is reversed in libel actions and placed firmly on the defender.
5
[ 谚 ] 事情越真实, 诽谤越厉害.

[ [] yàn ] shì qíng yuè, zhēn shí , fěi bàng.

The greater the truth, the greater [ worse ] thelibel.
6
我一辈子受够了诽谤.

wǒ yī bèi zǐ shòu gòu le fěi bàng.

I have had enough obloquy for one lifetime.
7
这是一本诽谤性的书, 所以出版商必须把店里的书全收回去.

zhè shì yī běn fěi bàng xìng de shū, , suǒ yǐ chū bǎn shāng bì xū bǎ diàn lǐ de shū quán shōu huí.

The book was libelous, so the publishers had to call in all copies of it from the bookshops.
8
这篇文章极具诽谤性。

zhè piān wén zhāng jí jù fěi bàng xìng。

The article was highly defamatory.
9
这位读者说这篇报道带有诽谤性.

zhè wèi dú zhě shuō zhè piān bào dào dài yǒu fěi bàng xìng.

The reader said that the report was defamatory.
10
在这儿, 丑事愈真实,诽谤的罪就愈大.

zài zhè ér, , chǒu shì yù zhēn, shí , fěi bàng de zuì jiù.

Here, the truer the scandal, the more libelous it is.

Cultural Notes for 诽谤

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, reputation is highly valued, and the consequences of 诽谤 can be severe, often leading to legal action. The concept of maintaining one's social standing is deeply rooted, reflecting the importance of honor in both personal and professional spheres.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, slander and libel are also serious issues, but the legal systems and societal attitudes towards defamation can differ significantly from those in China, particularly regarding freedom of speech.

Frequently Asked Questions about 诽谤

In Chinese, slander is referred to as 口头诽谤 (kǒutóu fěi bàng), while libel is called 书面诽谤 (shūmiàn fěi bàng), indicating the medium through which the defamation occurs.