讒 (chán) - To slander, defame, or speak maliciously of someone & calumny

讒Tone 2

chán ｜ 24 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

讒 · chán

To slander, defame, or speak maliciously of someone;

calumny;

to speak ill of others behind their back.

To slander, defame, or speak maliciously of someonecalumnyto speak ill of others behind their back.

Usage highlights

Slanderous wordsTo slander and harmSlanderous officialsTo be slanderedSlanderous tongueTo believe slander

Synonyms

  • 诽— to slander, defame
  • 谤— to libel, vilify
  • 诬— to falsely accuse

Antonyms

  • 誉— to praise, commend
  • 赞— to laud, approve
  • 褒— to praise, honor

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was slandered by his colleagues (被同事谗言).
  • The official was dismissed due to false accusations (因谗言被罢官).
  • Beware of those who speak slanderously (警惕进谗言者).
  • Historical records are full of tales of ministers being slandered (史书多载谗害忠良之事).

Collocations

  • Slanderous words(谗言)
  • To slander and harm(谗害)
  • Slanderous officials(谗臣)
  • To be slandered(被谗)
  • Slanderous tongue(谗口)
  • To believe slander(信谗)

Idioms

  • Slanderous words can melt metal(谗言铄金)
  • Slanderous tongue can confuse right and wrong(谗口嚣嚣)
  • To guard against slander(防谗杜渐)
  • Slanderous words separate flesh and bone(谗言离骨肉)
  • The slanderer's words are sweet but poisonous(谗言甘毒)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial Chinese history, '谗' was a serious social and political phenomenon where court officials would slander rivals to gain favor.
  • Many historical texts, including Records of the Grand Historian, document how slander led to the downfall of loyal ministers and generals.
  • Confucian ethics strongly condemn slander as contrary to righteousness and harmony in relationships.
  • The character appears frequently in classical literature warning against the dangers of believing slanderous talk.

FAQ