家丑不可外传，流言切莫轻信 in English jia1 chou3 bu4 ke3 wai4 chuan2 , liu2 yan2 qie4 mo4 qing1 xin4 Meaning

Meanings

  • Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly. (idiomatic expression)
  • Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.

Simplified Characters

家 丑 不 可 外 传 ， 流 言 切 莫 轻 信

Traditional Characters

家 醜 不 可 外 傳 ， 流 言 切 莫 輕 信

Pinyin

jia1 chou3 bu4 ke3 wai4 chuan2 , liu2 yan2 qie4 mo4 qing1 xin4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

家jia1see 傢伙|家伙[jia1 huo5] 丑chou3surname Chou 不bu4(negative prefix) 可ke3can 外wai4outside 传chuan2to pass on ， 流liu2to flow 言yan2words 切qie4to cut 莫mo4surname Mo 轻qing1light 信xin4letter