# 风吹草动

fēng chuī cǎo dòng

The slightest sign of disturbance

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wind blows and grass moves

**Traditional Chinese:** 風吹草動

**Register:** Watchful · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe small signals watched for danger or change.

The signal may be harmless; vigilance is not proof of a threat.

## Understanding the expression

Grass moves when a breeze passes, giving a small visible sign of change. The expression describes noticing similarly slight signals in a situation. It often appears with watching, checking, or reacting promptly. Attention can be useful, but a minor change does not establish a larger conclusion. A careful observer looks for its cause before adjusting a plan. Explain what was noticed and how it was checked, rather than assuming that every new sign requires an immediate response.

## Examples

他注意仓库周围的一点风吹草动。

### Traditional Chinese

他注意倉庫周圍的一點風吹草動。

tā zhù yì cāng kù zhōu wéi de yì diǎn fēng chuī cǎo dòng 。

He watches for any disturbance around the warehouse.

市场一有风吹草动，她就查数据。

### Traditional Chinese

市場一有風吹草動，她就查數據。

shì chǎng yì yǒu fēng chuī cǎo dòng ， tā jiù chá shù jù 。

She checks data at the first market signal.

别因一点风吹草动就匆忙改计划。

### Traditional Chinese

別因一點風吹草動就匆忙改計劃。

bié yīn yì diǎn fēng chuī cǎo dòng jiù cōng máng gǎi jì huà 。

Do not rush to change the plan at every slight sign of change.

孩子睡得浅，风吹草动都会醒。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子睡得淺，風吹草動都會醒。

hái zi shuì dé qiǎn ， fēng chuī cǎo dòng dōu huì xǐng 。

The child wakes at the slightest disturbance.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%A2%A8%E5%90%B9%E8%8D%89%E5%8B%95)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=685&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [风花雪月 fēng huā xuě yuè Romantic or ornamental matters detached from practical concerns ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/feng-hua-xue-yue)

- [凤毛麟角 fèng máo lín jiǎo Be exceptionally rare ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/feng-mao-lin-jiao)

- [浮光掠影 fú guāng lüè yǐng A fleeting or superficial impression ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/fu-guang-lve-ying)

- [高瞻远瞩 gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ Take a broad and forward looking view ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gao-zhan-yuan-zhu)

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