There is a piece of news circulating the internet recently.
The star couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie appeared to be a loving couple when facing the media, but they actually hid what was really happening at home, which has been hard on their children.
Furthermore, some speculate that their oldest child Maddox might be autistic. This news has surprised the couple’s fans, making them feel curious and nervous, although it has not been proven true or false.
In Chinese, we often call this kind of news “八卦新闻(bāguà xīnwén), gossip news.” In entertainment news, the paparazzi will try everything in their power to get information about a star’s private life in order to profit from the publicity generated by the news.
In fact, the original meaning of the word “八卦(bāguà)” referred to a set of Chinese ancient symbols for divination.
But now it has become a catchword for rumors, gossip and other hearsay. “八卦(bāguà)” often has no basis in reality or has not been confirmed, and has usually been exaggerated or amplified.
Generally, the word “八卦(bāguà)” can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb.
As a noun, “八卦(bāguà)” means rumors, gossip and other hearsay.
Example
Zuìjìn yǒu shénme bāguà?
最近 有 什么 八卦？
Any gossip recently?
As an adjective, when a person loves to pry or talk about other people’s private affairs, then you can say the person is “八卦(bāguà), gossipy.”
Examples
Nǐ néngbunéng bié zhème bāguà?
你 能不能 别 这么 八卦？
Can you stop being so gossipy?
Búyào gàosu MǎLì, tā hěn bāguà.
不要 告诉 玛丽，她 很 八卦。
Don’t tell Mary. She is very gossipy.
As a verb, “八卦(bāguà)” means to talk about or expose a person’s private affairs. You can also shorten “八卦(bāguà)” to “八(bā), eight” or “扒(bā)” instead.
Examples
Wŏ bú shì yíge ài bāguà de rén.
我 不 是 一个 爱八卦 的 人。
I’m not a person who loves to gossip.
Nàgè jìzhě hěn huì bā chǒuwén.
那个 记者 很 会 扒 丑闻。
That journalist is good at digging up scandals.
Our life is full of “八卦(bāguà), gossip.” Sometimes “八卦(bāguà), gossip” for others can entertain us. But when we are the subject of “八卦(bāguà), gossip” it’s not very entertaining.
Therefore we should be careful around people who are “八卦(bāguà), gossipy.” Otherwise, we risk being sunk into an embarrassing situation.
Exercises
1. If a woman is very “八卦(bāguà),” it means that she is___.
A. silly
B. gossipy
C. private
2. Which of the following news items may be called “八卦(bāguà)?”
A. Bill de Blasio celebrated the victory in the New York mayoral election.
B. China Construction Bank buys Brazil’s BIC.
C. Lady Gaga is dumped by her boyfriend.
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