‘鼓噪’ is a verb meaning to clamor, stir up public outcry, or incite noisy protest. Literally, 鼓 (gǔ) means 'to beat a drum' — symbolizing arousal or stimulation — and 噪 (zào) means 'noise' or 'clamor'. Together, they evoke the image of beating drums to rouse a crowd into loud, collective agitation. Historically, the term was used to describe how troops were rallied before battle or how mobs were stirred into action.

Today, ‘鼓噪’ carries a negative or critical connotation: it suggests manipulative, emotional, or irrational mass agitation rather than reasoned advocacy. It commonly appears in news reports, political commentary, and literary criticism when describing media-fueled panic, online mob behavior, or populist rhetoric. It’s rarely used in neutral or positive contexts — you wouldn’t say someone ‘鼓噪’ for a good cause without implying irony or disapproval.