# 鸡犬不宁

jī quǎn bù níng

Cause a household or community constant disturbance

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Even chickens and dogs have no peace

**Traditional Chinese:** 雞犬不寧

**Register:** Critical · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe disruptive commotion affecting everyone nearby.

Usually critical and broader than one brief noise.

## Understanding the expression

Chickens and dogs represent the ordinary life of a household or neighborhood. If even they cannot settle, the disturbance reaches everyone. The expression often describes quarrels, repeated construction noise, or intrusive behavior that destroys daily peace. It need not involve actual animals. The scale is local and social rather than catastrophic, so it naturally fits a building or family whose routines are repeatedly upset by one ongoing source of trouble.

## Examples

装修噪声让整栋楼鸡犬不宁。

### Traditional Chinese

裝修噪聲讓整棟樓雞犬不寧。

zhuāng xiū zào shēng ràng zhěng dòng lóu jī quǎn bù níng 。

Renovation noise disturbed the entire building.

他们天天争吵，家里鸡犬不宁。

### Traditional Chinese

他們天天爭吵，家裡雞犬不寧。

tā men tiān tiān zhēng chǎo ， jiā lǐ jī quǎn bù níng 。

Their daily arguments keep the household unsettled.

那场纠纷闹得街坊鸡犬不宁。

### Traditional Chinese

那場糾紛鬧得街坊雞犬不寧。

nà chǎng jiū fēn nào dé jiē fāng jī quǎn bù níng 。

The dispute disrupted the whole neighborhood.

别为一件小事弄得鸡犬不宁。

### Traditional Chinese

別為一件小事弄得雞犬不寧。

bié wèi yí jiàn xiǎo shì nòng dé jī quǎn bù níng 。

Do not disturb everyone over a small matter.

## 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%9B%9E%E7%8A%AC%E4%B8%8D%E5%AF%A7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=496&webMd=1&la=0)

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