wēi危dangerousyán言wordssǒng耸alarmtīng听hearing
To exaggerate to mislead or scare people; to raise a false alarm; sensationalize.
Literal meaning
dangerous (危) — words (言) — alarm (耸) — hearing (听)
Origin
Describes using alarming words to deliberately frighten people. A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
tā他zǒng总shì是wēi危yán言sǒng耸tīng听，zhì制zào造kǒng恐huāng慌。
He always exaggerates to mislead and create panic.
bù不yào要wēi危yán言sǒng耸tīng听，yào要shí实shì事qiú求shì是。
Don't sensationalize; be realistic and seek truth from facts.
Usage & nuances
Negative, describes the act of exaggerating to create fear or alarm.
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