publicize; spread outside
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to publicize outwardly; to spread (news, scandals) outside
Often used in negative contexts, particularly regarding family scandals or private matters that should remain confidential. Most commonly appears in the idiom '家丑不可外扬' (one should not wash dirty linen in public).
Jiā家
chǒu丑
bù不
kě可
wài外
yáng扬
。
One should not wash dirty linen in public.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
shì事
zuì最
hǎo好
bù不
yào要
wài外
yáng扬
。
It's best not to let this kind of matter spread outside.
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Xiāo消
xī息
yǐ已
jīng经
wài外
yáng扬
chū出
qù去
le了
，
xiǎng想
bǎo保
mì密
yě也
wǎn晚
le了
。
The news has already leaked out; it's too late to try to keep it secret.
Chǒu丑
shì事
yī一
dàn旦
wài外
yáng扬
，
míng名
yù誉
jiù就
hěn很
nán难
huī恢
fù复
le了
。
Once a scandal is made public, reputation is hard to restore.