风声鹤唳
fēng shēng hè lì
so frightened that every sound seems a threat
Character by character
风fēng
wind
wind
声shēng
sound
sound
鹤hè
crane
crane
唳lì
cry
cry
Example
公司传出裁员的消息后，办公室里风声鹤唳，谁都不敢多说一句话。
Once word got out about lay-offs, the office was on edge and no one dared say a word more than necessary.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
After the battle of the Fei River in 383, the routed army of 前秦 fled in such terror that the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes made them think the enemy was on their heels (晋书). Often paired as 风声鹤唳，草木皆兵. Describes a mood of panic, in a town, a market or an office.
Learn this in Lesson 159 · HSK 7–9: 伍连德与1910年鼠疫 (Wu Lien-teh and the plague of 1910)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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