Chinese idiom · 成语
风声鹤唳
Meaning
To be intensely alarmed, interpreting ordinary sounds or signs as danger.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountThe Jin Shu (晉書), in Xie An’s biography, describes the collapse of Fu Jian’s army after its defeat by Eastern Jin forces at the Fei River. During the flight, soldiers hear the wind and the calls of cranes and believe that the pursuing army has reached them. Fear makes ordinary sounds seem like renewed attacks.
The account also describes exposure, hunger, and confusion during the retreat. The idiom preserves the image of panic spreading beyond the battlefield, so that even ambiguous signs are interpreted as danger. It is a description of alarm and suspicion, not a medical diagnosis.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
办公室传出裁员的传闻后，大家风声鹤唳，连普通会议通知都让人紧张。
After rumors of layoffs spread, everyone was on edge; even routine meeting notices made people nervous.
Describes an atmosphere of intense alarm, often after a frightening event or rumor.