rumors are not entirely baseless; (now often) rumors are baseless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesidiom
wind comes from an empty hole; rumors are not entirely groundless
literaryOriginal meaning. Literally, wind must have a cave to come from, implying rumors must have some basis or cause.
Kōng空
xué穴
lái来
fēng风
，
wèi未
bì必
wú无
yīn因
，
wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
diào调
chá查
yī一
xià下
zhè这
gè个
xiāo消
xī息
de的
lái来
yuán源
。
Rumors are not baseless; we should investigate the source of this news.
idiom
rumors are groundless and completely unfounded
neutralModern and common usage, often used to dismiss rumors or hearsay. Note the significant shift in meaning from the original. Used as a predicate or attributive.
Nà那
xiē些
shuō说
tā他
cí辞
zhí职
de的
chuán传
yán言
chún纯
shǔ属
kōng空
xué穴
lái来
fēng风
，
dà大
jiā家
bù不
yào要
xiāng相
xìn信
。
Those rumors about him resigning are completely baseless; everyone, don't believe them.
Méi媒
tǐ体
chéng澄
qīng清
le了
nà那
xiē些
kōng空
xué穴
lái来
fēng风
de的
bào报
dào道
。
The media clarified those groundless reports.
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Zhè这
gè个
shuō说
fǎ法
tīng听
qǐ起
lái来
xiàng像
kōng空
xué穴
lái来
fēng风
，
méi没
shén什
me么
kě可
xìn信
dù度
。
This claim sounds like baseless rumors; it's not credible.