沸沸扬扬

• Pinyin: fèi fèi yáng yáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 沸 = 氵+ 弗 (water + not/against — boiling, turbulent water); 扬 = 扌+ 昜 (hand + rising sun — to raise, spread)

Meaning

Abuzz; widely talked about; the subject of intense public discussion or rumour. Describes a situation where something is circulating widely and causing a stir.

A four-character idiom derived from the image of boiling water bubbling and spreading in all directions. Used to describe news, rumours, or controversies that spread rapidly and become the subject of widespread discussion, often with a slightly negative or sensational connotation.

Examples

1. 那位知名演员的婚变消息一经传出便在网络上沸沸扬扬，各大社交平台的热搜榜单被相关词条迅速占满，评论区的讨论持续发酵长达数日之久。 As soon as news of the famous actor’s marital split broke, the internet was buzzing. Related terms quickly took over trending lists on major social platforms, and the discussion in comment sections kept snowballing for days.
2. 关于这家上市公司高管涉嫌财务造假的传言在业界沸沸扬扬了将近一个月，直至监管机构正式介入调查，公司才发布官方声明作出回应。 Rumors that an executive at this publicly listed company was involved in financial fraud had been swirling in the industry for nearly a month. Only when regulators formally launched an investigation did the company issue an official statement in response.
3. 这项涉及土地使用权变更的改造计划在当地闹得沸沸扬扬，反对者担心损害原住民权益，支持者则强调有利于区域发展。 This redevelopment plan involving changes to land-use rights caused a huge stir locally. Opponents worried it would harm the rights of longtime residents, while supporters emphasized the benefits for regional development.

Usage Guide

Context: media, social, journalism

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 这起涉及多名官员的腐败案件在整个省份闹得沸沸扬扬，当地媒体对案件的进展进行了长达数月的持续追踪报道。(This corruption case involving multiple officials was the subject of intense discussion throughout the entire province, and local media carried out months of continuous follow-up coverage on its progress.)
• 新政策出台后在学术界引发了沸沸扬扬的争议，支持者与反对者各执一词，争论的焦点集中在政策对基础研究资金分配的潜在影响上。(After the new policy was introduced, it sparked widespread controversy in academia, with supporters and opponents each holding their ground, and the debate centring on the potential impact of the policy on the allocation of basic research funding.)

Don't Say

• 沸沸扬扬 for positive widespread attention without controversy — it implies a disruptive or sensational quality; for widespread positive buzz, prefer 广受好评 or 引发热议

Origin & History

沸沸 (boiling, bubbling) + 扬扬 (spreading, rising up) — like boiling water bubbling and spreading in all directions; figuratively describes something widely circulated and talked about

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal