风吹草动
风吹草动 (fēng chuī cǎo dòng) literally means “wind blows grass moves” and expresses “react to slightest hint of change or activity”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: feng chui cao dong, feng chui cao dong,风吹草动 meaning, 风吹草动 in english
React to slightest hint of change or activity
Pronunciation: fēng chuī cǎo dòng Literal meaning: Wind blows grass moves
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty military scouts first used this phrase to describe how wind (风) blowing (吹) causes grass (草) to move (动), revealing subtle signs of enemy movement. Song Dynasty officials expanded it to describe political sensitivity to small social changes. The environmental metaphor perfectly captures how minor visible effects can reveal significant hidden causes.
When to Use
Situation: The military command analyzed every minor border incident for signs of potential conflict
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Related Chinese Idioms
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jiǔ niú yī máo
A drop in the bucket; negligible amount
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火冒三丈
huǒ mào sān zhàng
Explode in extreme anger or rage
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供不应求
gōng bù yìng qiú
Demand exceeds available supply
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根深蒂固
gēn shēn dì gù
Deeply entrenched and difficult to change
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高枕无忧
gāo zhěn wú yōu
Completely free from worry or concern
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风土人情
fēng tǔ rén qíng
Local customs and cultural characteristics
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飞禽走兽
fēi qín zǒu shòu
All varieties of wildlife in nature
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当务之急
dāng wù zhī jí
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 风吹草动 mean in English?
风吹草动 (fēng chuī cǎo dòng) literally translates to “Wind blows grass moves” and is used to express “React to slightest hint of change or activity”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 风吹草动 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving react to slightest hint of change or activity.
What is the pinyin for 风吹草动?
The pinyin pronunciation for 风吹草动 is “fēng chuī cǎo dòng”.