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大惊小怪(大驚小怪)

dà jīng xiǎo guàiRelationships & Character

大惊小怪 (dà jīng xiǎo guài) literally meansbig surprise small strangeand expressesmake a fuss about nothing”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships & character.

Also searched as: da jing xiao guai, da jing xiao guai,大惊小怪 meaning, 大惊小怪 in english

Pronunciation: dà jīng xiǎo guài Literal meaning: Big surprise small strange

Origin & Usage

This idiom describes making big (大) surprise (惊) over small (小) strange things (怪) - overreacting to minor matters. The phrase criticizes disproportionate responses to insignificant events. It appeared in Ming Dynasty texts criticizing those who lacked composure. The contrast between 'big' surprise and 'small' cause highlights the mismatch. Modern usage gently criticizes unnecessary alarm or excessive reactions to trivial matters, encouraging proportionate responses.

When to Use

Situation: Don't make such a fuss over a minor mistake.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 大惊小怪 mean in English?

大惊小怪 (dà jīng xiǎo guài) literally translates toBig surprise small strangeand is used to expressMake a fuss about nothing”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theRelationships & Character category..

When is 大惊小怪 used?

Situation: Don't make such a fuss over a minor mistake.

What is the pinyin for 大惊小怪?

The pinyin pronunciation for 大惊小怪 isdà jīng xiǎo guài”.