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大惊小怪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
大惊小怪dàjīngxiǎoguàito make a fuss about nothing (idiom)HSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #7206, Very Hard
dàjīngxiǎoguài(da4jing1xiao3guai4)da jing xiao guai T4
  1. 1to make a fuss about nothing (idiom)
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March 24, 2026

大惊小怪(大驚小怪)dàjīngxiǎoguài(da4jing1xiao3guai4)

大惊小怪 is an idiom meaning to overreact or make a fuss about something insignificant. It is commonly used to describe situations where people blow things out of proportion or exhibit exaggerated reactions to minor issues.

Strokes25Frequency#7206DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there is often an emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding overreactions, which makes this idiom particularly relevant. It reflects a cultural value of resilience and calmness in the face of minor inconveniences.

Memory tip

Imagine a large person (大) being startled (惊) by a tiny bug (小怪), causing a scene. This humorous imagery helps you remember that this phrase refers to making a big deal out of a small problem.

Meanings of 大惊小怪

dàjīngxiǎoguài(da4jing1xiao3guai4)
1to make a fuss about nothing (idiom)
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About 大惊小怪

大惊小怪Simplified
大驚小怪Traditional
25Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 大惊小怪

Usage Notes

This idiom is mostly used in informal contexts and can be applied in daily conversations. Be cautious when using it in formal settings, as it may come off as dismissive or trivializing someone's concerns. Common collocations include '不必要的大惊小怪' (unnecessary fuss).

HSK Study Tips

While 大惊小怪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for advanced learners to understand idiomatic expressions. Focus on using it in conversational contexts to express opinions about others' reactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 大惊小怪 to describe serious situations, which is incorrect. For example, saying '他对考试大惊小怪' (He made a fuss about the exam) is wrong if the exam is genuinely serious. Instead, use it for minor issues.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 大惊小怪

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Component characters

大dàbig
HSK 13 strokes大
View full entry
惊jīngto start
HSK 711 strokes忄
View full entry
小xiǎosmall
HSK 13 strokes小
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怪guàibewildering
HSK 58 strokes忄
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How to say to make a fuss about nothing (idiom) in Chinese

“to make a fuss about nothing (idiom)” in Chinese is大惊小怪dàjīngxiǎoguài

大惊小怪 is an idiom meaning to overreact or make a fuss about something insignificant. It is commonly used to describe situations where people blow things out of proportion or exhibit exaggerated reactions to minor issues.

When to use 大惊小怪

This idiom is mostly used in informal contexts and can be applied in daily conversations. Be cautious when using it in formal settings, as it may come off as dismissive or trivializing someone's concerns. Common collocations include '不必要的大惊小怪' (unnecessary fuss).

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 大惊小怪 to describe serious situations, which is incorrect. For example, saying '他对考试大惊小怪' (He made a fuss about the exam) is wrong if the exam is genuinely serious. Instead, use it for minor issues.

Write 大惊小怪

大
惊
小
怪

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Frequently asked questions about 大惊小怪

You can say, '他对这个小问题大惊小怪', meaning 'He made a fuss about this small problem.'

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