fung1 ceoi1 cou2 dung6風吹草動风吹草动

Jyutpingfung1 ceoi1 cou2 dung6

Yalefūng chēui chóu dungh

Definition

A sign of disturbance; signs of trouble

colloquialother

How it's used

This idiom is frequently used in contexts involving security, surveillance, or tense situations where people are on high alert. It captures the feeling of being hyper-vigilant and ready to react to the slightest hint of a threat. It is rarely used to describe literal wind blowing through grass, but rather metaphorical disturbances in a social or political environment.

Examples

jat1 jau5 fung1 ceoi1 cou2 dung6 keoi5 dei6 zau6 zik1 hak1 zau2 jan4

一有風吹草動，佢哋就即刻走人。

As soon as there is any sign of trouble, they leave immediately.

nei5 m4 sai2 gam3 geng1 bin1 jau5 fung1 ceoi1 cou2 dung6 aa4

你唔使咁驚，邊有風吹草動呀？

You don't need to be so scared, where is there any sign of trouble?

Common phrases

jat1 jau5 fung1 ceoi1 cou2 dung6

一有風吹草動

once there is the slightest sign of trouble

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of nature, but it is almost exclusively used to describe human-related conflict or suspicious activity. Using it to describe actual weather or plants will sound confusing to native speakers.