# 司空见惯

sī kōng jiàn guàn

So familiar that it no longer surprises

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Something Si Kong is accustomed to seeing

**Traditional Chinese:** 司空見慣

**Register:** Neutral or critical · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use for an occurrence or practice that has become commonplace.

Commonness does not make something acceptable; it can describe familiar misconduct as well.

## Understanding the expression

The expression treats repeated observation as the reason an event no longer feels unusual. It can refer to an ordinary routine or criticize a problem people have grown accustomed to. The focus is familiarity rather than whether the event is good. An occurrence may be frequent in one place and surprising in another, so specify the relevant setting when that distinction matters.

## Examples

在这座城市，骑车上班已经司空见惯。

### Traditional Chinese

在這座城市，騎車上班已經司空見慣。

zài zhè zuò chéng shì ， qí chē shàng bān yǐ jīng sī kōng jiàn guàn 。

Cycling to work is already a common sight in this city.

这种小错误虽然司空见惯，也应该及时修正。

### Traditional Chinese

這種小錯誤雖然司空見慣，也應該及時修正。

zhè zhǒng xiǎo cuò wù suī rán sī kōng jiàn guàn ， yě yīng gāi jí shí xiū zhèng 。

These small mistakes may be common, but they should still be corrected.

她对临时改期早已司空见惯。

### Traditional Chinese

她對臨時改期早已司空見慣。

tā duì lín shí gǎi qī zǎo yǐ sī kōng jiàn guàn 。

She has become accustomed to last-minute schedule changes.

十年前很新奇的技术，如今已司空见惯。

### Traditional Chinese

十年前很新奇的技術，如今已司空見慣。

shí nián qián hěn xīn qí de jì shù ， rú jīn yǐ sī kōng jiàn guàn 。

Technology that seemed remarkable ten years ago is commonplace today.

## 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=%E5%8F%B8%E7%A9%BA%E8%A6%8B%E6%85%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=27&webMd=1&la=0)

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