莫须有

莫須有

mòxūyǒu

adjective #16,743

Meanings

1 groundless; baseless; fabricated
2 unwarranted (accusation)

Characters

to have; to exist

Literally 'perhaps there is' or 'need not have' - a deliberately vague accusation with no proof.

Examples

HSK 5

别用莫须有的理由来指责我。

Bié yòng mòxūyǒu de lǐyóu lái zhǐzé wǒ.

Don't accuse me with baseless reasons.

HSK 6

这完全是莫须有的罪名。

Zhè wánquán shì mòxūyǒu de zuìmíng.

This is a completely fabricated charge.

Tips

history

From the Song dynasty - when general 岳飞 was framed for treason, fellow general 韩世忠 demanded proof. The conspirator 秦桧 replied 莫须有 - 'perhaps there is.' This became the classic expression for trumped-up charges.

Stroke Order

莫 mò

须 xū

有 yǒu