# 满城风雨

mǎn chéng fēng yǔ

An issue becomes widely discussed and sensational

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wind and rain sweep the whole city

**Traditional Chinese:** 滿城風雨

**Register:** Concerned · general

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

## When to use it

Describe rumors or scandal spreading everywhere.

Often negative; not neutral publicity.

## Understanding the expression

Wind and rain reach across a city, leaving few places untouched. The phrase applies that spread to talk about an event, especially rumor, conflict, or scandal. Modern use emphasizes how widely people are discussing the issue and the disturbance that follows. It need not refer to an actual city. The expression says something about public reaction, not whether every claim circulating with that reaction is true.

## Examples

这件事闹得满城风雨。

### Traditional Chinese

這件事鬧得滿城風雨。

zhè jiàn shì nào dé mǎn chéng fēng yǔ 。

The incident has become a widely discussed scandal.

一条传闻弄得满城风雨。

### Traditional Chinese

一條傳聞弄得滿城風雨。

yì tiáo chuán wén nòng dé mǎn chéng fēng yǔ 。

One rumor caused an uproar everywhere.

他们不想把家事闹得满城风雨。

### Traditional Chinese

他們不想把家事鬧得滿城風雨。

tā men bù xiǎng bǎ jiā shì nào dé mǎn chéng fēng yǔ 。

They do not want their family matter widely sensationalized.

调查未完，消息已满城风雨。

### Traditional Chinese

調查未完，消息已滿城風雨。

diào chá wèi wán ， xiāo xī yǐ mǎn chéng fēng yǔ 。

Before the investigation ends, the news is already causing an uproar.

## 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=%E6%BB%BF%E5%9F%8E%E9%A2%A8%E9%9B%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=121&webMd=1&la=0)

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