# 空穴来风

kōng xué lái fēng

A rumor arises, often said to be groundless

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wind comes through an opening

**Traditional Chinese:** 空穴來風

**Register:** Ambiguous · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Discuss the basis of rumors, making the intended sense explicit.

Usage varies: traditional reasoning suggests a cause, while modern use often means baseless.

## Understanding the expression

An opening gives wind somewhere to pass through, which supports the older idea that a rumor may have a reason behind it. Modern speakers also use the expression for unsupported talk, creating a notable ambiguity. Negative forms are especially common when suggesting there may be evidence. Learners should make the intended judgment explicit instead of relying on the idiom alone. The important practical question is what facts support the claim.

## Examples

裁员传闻并非空穴来风，公司已经冻结招聘。

### Traditional Chinese

裁員傳聞並非空穴來風，公司已經凍結招聘。

cái yuán chuán wén bìng fēi kōng xué lái fēng ， gōng sī yǐ jīng dòng jié zhāo pìn 。

The layoff rumor has a basis: the company has frozen hiring.

别把空穴来风的消息当成事实，先查来源。

### Traditional Chinese

別把空穴來風的消息當成事實，先查來源。

bié bǎ kōng xué lái fēng de xiāo xī dàng chéng shì shí ， xiān chá lái yuán 。

Do not treat unsupported reports as facts; check their sources first.

他说消息不是空穴来风，但还没拿出证据。

### Traditional Chinese

他說消息不是空穴來風，但還沒拿出證據。

tā shuō xiāo xī bú shì kōng xué lái fēng ， dàn hái méi ná chū zhèng jù 。

He said the report was not baseless but has produced no evidence.

这项猜测是不是空穴来风，需要核实。

### Traditional Chinese

這項猜測是不是空穴來風，需要核實。

zhè xiàng cāi cè shì bu shì kōng xué lái fēng ， xū yào hé shí 。

Whether this speculation has any basis needs verification.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%A9%BA%E7%A9%B4%E4%BE%86%E9%A2%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=420&webMd=1&la=0)

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