📖 Meaning
To gossip and spread rumors about others' affairs. It refers to the act of discussing and judging what is right and wrong, often with the pejorative connotation of meddling in others' business or stirring up trouble through idle talk. It is synonymous with 说是谈非.
📜 Origin Story
No specific literary origin is recorded for this idiom; it is a folk expression that arose from everyday vernacular usage. The phrase employs a parallel structure pairing '说' (to speak) with '道' (to talk) and '是' (right) with '非' (wrong), reflecting the traditional Chinese emphasis on distinguishing right from wrong in social discourse. Over time it acquired a negative sense, describing those who busy themselves with gossip and tattle. It circulated widely in Ming and Qing vernacular fiction as a descriptor for meddlesome chatter.
💡 Example Usage
她总是喜欢在邻里之间说是道非，惹人厌烦。
She always likes to gossip among the neighbors, annoying everyone around her.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 说是道非
- Pinyin: shuō shì dào fēi
- Literal Translation: say, right, talk, wrong
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4