# 息事宁人

xī shì níng rén

Settle a dispute to preserve peace

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Stop the affair and calm people

**Traditional Chinese:** 息事寧人

**Register:** Standard · expressive

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

## When to use it

Describe compromise intended to quiet conflict.

May leave the underlying injustice unresolved.

## Understanding the expression

The immediate aim is to end trouble and restore calm. The expression can describe practical mediation, but it often suggests smoothing over a dispute instead of addressing its real cause. A person may apologize to avoid further conflict even when responsibility is unclear. That can be sensible in a small quarrel, yet harmful when serious misconduct remains unchecked. The useful question is whether peace comes with a fair resolution or merely silence.

## Examples

她想息事宁人，先退回货款。

### Traditional Chinese

她想息事寧人，先退回貨款。

tā xiǎng xī shì níng rén ， xiān tuì huí huò kuǎn 。

She wanted to settle the dispute peacefully and refunded the money first.

不能为息事宁人而隐瞒欺凌。

### Traditional Chinese

不能為息事寧人而隱瞞欺凌。

bù néng wèi xī shì níng rén ér yǐn mán qī líng 。

Bullying must not be concealed merely to keep the peace.

双方各退一步，息事宁人。

### Traditional Chinese

雙方各退一步，息事寧人。

shuāng fāng gè tuì yí bù ， xī shì níng rén 。

Both sides made concessions to settle the matter.

他总息事宁人，问题却反复出现。

### Traditional Chinese

他總息事寧人，問題卻反覆出現。

tā zǒng xī shì níng rén ， wèn tí què fǎn fù chū xiàn 。

He always smooths things over, but the problem keeps returning.

## 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%81%AF%E4%BA%8B%E5%AF%A7%E4%BA%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=881&webMd=1&la=0)

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