daai6 si6 faa3 siu2 siu2 si6 faa3 mou4大事化小，小事化無大事化小，小事化无
Definition
To minimize major issues and eliminate minor ones in order to avoid unnecessary trouble.
How it's used
This idiom is frequently invoked as a plea for conflict resolution or de-escalation in interpersonal disputes. It reflects a cultural preference for maintaining social harmony over seeking strict accountability or justice in trivial matters. It is often used by a third party acting as a mediator to encourage both sides to drop their grievances.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a process, but it is almost exclusively used as a persuasive suggestion or a command to others to change their attitude. It is not appropriate to use this when someone has suffered a serious injury or a major legal injustice, as it can sound dismissive or insensitive.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
