鸡犬不宁

雞犬不寧

jīquǎn-bùníng

idiom

Meanings

1 not even chickens and dogs are at peace
2 pervasive disturbance, pandemonium

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

装修期间楼上楼下鸡犬不宁。

Zhuāngxiū qījiān lóushàng lóuxià jīquǎn-bùníng.

During the renovations, the whole building upstairs and down was in pandemonium.

HSK 5

他一回来就把家里搞得鸡犬不宁。

Tā yì huílai jiù bǎ jiālǐ gǎo de jīquǎn-bùníng.

The moment he came home, he turned the house upside down.

Tips

history

From 柳宗元《捕蛇者说》: Liu Zongyuan described harsh tax collectors who 'shout and crash through the village until not even the chickens and dogs are left in peace.' A Tang-era protest against the toll of cruel governance.

Stroke Order

鸡 jī

犬 quǎn

不 bù

宁 níng