諺語 · a single proverb
空穴來風
Simplified: 空穴来风
What does 空穴來風 (kōng xué lái fēng) mean?
空穴來風 (kōng xué lái fēng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "empty cave attracts wind." In use it means: Rumors don't arise without some basis; there is always some cause behind the talk. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Snake.
Literally: "empty cave attracts wind."
The reading
The cave that draws wind does so because it is open, and the opening is always there before the wind arrives. A story gains traction because it found something in reality to grip. The question is not whether the rumor is exactly true but what in the world gave it its first purchase.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Song Yu 宋玉·《風賦》 (Fēng Fù, Rhapsody on Wind, Chu)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Frog, and Year of the Rat.
Questions
Is 空穴來風 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 空穴來風 (kōng xué lái fēng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Song Yu 宋玉·《風賦》 (Fēng Fù, Rhapsody on Wind, Chu). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 空穴來風?
In Mandarin it is kōng xué lái fēng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 空穴來風 aloud in Mandarin.