The word 绯闻 is formed through a metaphorical and semantic combination of its two characters: 绯 originally means a reddish or pinkish color, often historically associated with rouge or blush, thereby carrying connotations of romantic allure or suggestive intimacy; 闻 means "news" or "heard information". When combined, the term literally suggests "red-colored news", but figuratively it refers specifically to gossip or rumors about a romantic or scandalous relationship, leveraging the color's association with passion and secrecy to create a vivid euphemism for romantic scandal.