hearsay

/ˈhɪəseɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪrseɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhir-ˌsā/ (ame, mw)

hearsay — noun

1. facts or reports that someone tells you, which may or may not be true because yo

1.名詞B2
釋義

facts or reports that someone tells you, which may or may not be true because you did not see or experience them yourself

例句

Theo knows about the accident only through hearsay, so he is not sure what happened.

know about + [topic] through hearsay

The judge refused to accept the witness's statement because it was pure hearsay.

collocation: pure hearsay

同義詞
  • rumor

    more informal than hearsay; focuses on the unverified nature of the information rather than the chain of telling

  • gossip

    more personal and informal; usually about other people's private lives, whereas hearsay can be about any topic

  • word of mouth

    a neutral phrase for information passed by speaking; hearsay adds doubt about whether the information is true

反義詞
  • fact

    something that is known to be true and can be checked, not based on what others claim

  • evidence

    information that can be proven, often supported by documents or direct observation

文法句型

hearsay about [topic]

through hearsay

be based on hearsay

用法筆記

Often used in legal contexts. In court, hearsay evidence is generally not accepted as proof because the original speaker is not present to be questioned under oath.

常見錯誤

❌I heard a hearsay about the fire.
✅I heard some hearsay about the fire.' or 'I heard a rumor about the fire.
💡hearsay is uncountable; use 'some hearsay' or the countable noun 'rumor'.