人言可畏 (rényánkěwèi): gossip is a fearful thing

From the 《诗经·郑风·将仲子》 (Shījīng, 'Book of Songs'), where a young woman tells her would-be suitor: 人之多言，亦可畏也 (rén zhī duō yán, yì kě wèi yě) 'people's many words are also to be feared'. Famously cited again in 1935 when Shanghai actress 阮玲玉 (Ruǎn Língyù) took her life leaving a note reading '人言可畏'.

usage

Used as a standalone four-character comment, often after recounting something destroyed by rumor — relationships, reputations, careers.

In Pop Culture

阮玲玉 Ruǎn Língyù

Ruan Lingyu

1930s Shanghai film star whose 1935 suicide note read '人言可畏', cementing the phrase in modern Chinese consciousness; subject of Stanley Kwan's 1991 film 'Center Stage'.