Bagua(八卦):

In Chinese, it is pronounced as:bā guà，Written as:

Gossip, also known as entertainment gossip, is a term used in the entertainment industry, originating from modern colloquial Hong Kongese, generally referring to idle talk with the connotation of discussing others’ affairs, especially rumors about the private lives of celebrities. It can function as a noun, adjective, or verb. Rumors often pertain to romantic relationships, marriages, or sexual matters. “Tabloid news” or “fluff news” refers to less important but amusing news, typically framed with decorative borders when printed in newspapers.

Regarding its origin, there are various theories. One theory: In Cantonese, the original meaning of “gossip” is to talk about right and wrong everywhere, to be verbose. Entertainment news and paparazzi, in order to attract readers, dig up and widely publicize celebrities’ private lives. Therefore, such news is known as “gossip news,” also referred to as “entertainment gossip,” equivalent to the English terms “Gossip” or “Fluffy News.”

Another theory traces back even further and more fully embodies the spirit of gossip: The term “gossip magazine” originated in early Hong Kong when pornographic publications used eye-catching photos on covers, with key parts covered by mosaic-like Bagua diagrams; magazines reporting on celebrities’ private lives were thus named. The term “gossip” even evolved from a noun into an adjective and a verb.

Another explanation is that in the past, teahouses looking to attract customers would post gossip in the shape of Bagua diagrams on the outer walls of the teahouse, and over time, these small talks came to be known as “gossip.”

In recent years, the term “gossip news” has become popularly known as “melon” on the Chinese mainland’s internet slang. The act of ruthlessly exposing someone’s privacy or dark history is referred to as “peeling,” discussing gossip news with an indifferent attitude and spectating someone’s private matters is called “eating melon,” and those who participate are called “melon-eating masses.”