捕风捉影

bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng◆idiom
to make baseless accusations

他总是捕风捉影，说我偷了他的钱包。

He’s always making baseless accusations, saying I stole his wallet.

◆ What It Really Means
To fabricate or exaggerate evidence to support a false accusation, often for malicious or careless reasons.
Literal Meaning
To catch the wind and grab shadows
Literal Breakdown
捕风to catch the wind (impossible task)+捉影to grab a shadow (impossible task)
◇ Mental Image
A vivid mental picture of someone frantically trying to catch invisible wind and shadows, symbolizing futile efforts and baseless claims.
◈ When to Use
In a workplace meeting, a manager accuses an employee of leaking confidential information without any proof. A colleague might say, '你这样捕风捉影地指责人，会伤害团队的信任。' (Your baseless accusations will harm team trust.)
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the ancient Chinese philosophical view of skepticism toward unverifiable claims. It is often cited in Confucian texts to emphasize the importance of evidence-based reasoning in governance and personal conduct.
formal

to make groundless accusations or assumptions based on flimsy or non-existent evidence

记者的报道捕风捉影，完全没有事实依据。

The reporter’s article is full of baseless accusations with no factual basis.

不要捕风捉影地指责别人，要以事实为依据。

Don’t make baseless accusations; stick to the facts.

Often used to criticize someone for fabricating or exaggerating evidence.

Collocations

捕风捉影地说to say something baselessly捕风捉影的指控baseless accusations

Related Phrases

无风不起浪proverb
there's no smoke without fire
空穴来风idiom
rumors often have some basis, though not always true

Pro Tip

Avoiding Misuse

This idiom is often confused with '空穴来风' (which suggests rumors may have some basis). Remember, '捕风捉影' implies a complete lack of evidence, not just uncertainty.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Use '捕风捉影' when criticizing someone for making accusations without evidence, not when discussing mere rumors or possibilities.

Word Origin

Originates from the ancient Chinese text '汉书·郊祀志下' (Book of Han: Sacrifices and Divination), where it describes a person trying to catch the wind and shadows—impossible tasks symbolizing futile efforts or baseless claims.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in formal or critical contexts to describe accusations or claims that lack evidence. Often implies intentional deception or careless speculation.

Word Breakdown

捕风
to catch the wind
verb-object
+
捉影
to grab a shadow
verb-object
汉英词典
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