甚嚣尘上

甚囂塵上

shènxiāo-chénshàng

idiom #46,526

Meanings

1 clamor raises the dust
2 a great uproar; much-talked-about rumor spreading widely
3 running rampant (often of rumors or criticism)

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

那段时间，批评的声音甚嚣尘上。

Nà duàn shíjiān, pīpíng de shēngyīn shènxiāo-chénshàng.

During that period, criticisms were flying thick and fast.

HSK 7-9

最近关于他的谣言甚嚣尘上。

Zuìjìn guānyú tā de yáoyán shènxiāo-chénshàng.

Rumors about him are rampant these days.

HSK 7-9

阴谋论甚嚣尘上，让人难辨真假。

Yīnmóulùn shènxiāo-chénshàng, ràng rén nán biàn zhēnjiǎ.

Conspiracy theories are running wild, making it hard to tell truth from falsehood.

Tips

history

From 《左传·成公十六年》: during the Battle of Yanling, the Chu king observed the enemy's preparations and remarked 甚嚣，且尘上矣 - 'the clamor is great, and dust rises' - meaning troops were massing. The idiom later shifted to figurative noise: loud opinions, rumors, and criticisms that stir up public attention.

register

Strongly negative in modern use - describes rumors, gossip, criticism, or disinformation swirling at high intensity. Formal/literary. Common in journalism and political commentary.

Stroke Order

甚 shèn

嚣 xiāo

尘 chén

上 shàng