storm in a teacup; trivial matter; petty issue
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesidiom
storm in a teacup; a trivial matter
Literally 'storm in a cup of water'. Used to describe issues that are exaggerated in importance but are actually insignificant.
Tā他
men们
liǎ俩
de的
zhēng争
chǎo吵
bù不
guò过
shì是
bēi杯
shuǐ水
fēng风
bō波
，
míng明
tiān天
jiù就
wàng忘
le了
。
Their argument was just a storm in a teacup; they'll have forgotten it by tomorrow.
Bié别
bǎ把
zhè这
diǎn点
bēi杯
shuǐ水
fēng风
bō波
kàn看
dé得
tài太
zhòng重
。
Don't take this trivial matter too seriously.
idiom
petty issue; narrow subject matter lacking broad social significance
literaryOften used in literary or artistic criticism to describe works that focus on insignificant personal emotions rather than major societal themes.
Rén人
mín民
de的
zuò作
jiā家
bù不
néng能
tuō脱
lí离
dà大
zhòng众
、
tuō脱
lí离
xiàn现
shí实
，
zhǐ只
xiě写
yī一
jǐ己
bēi悲
huān欢
、
bēi杯
shuǐ水
fēng风
bō波
。
Writers of the people cannot detach themselves from the masses and reality, writing only about personal sorrows and petty issues.
Zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
chén沉
nì溺
yú于
bēi杯
shuǐ水
fēng风
bō波
，
quē缺
fá乏
shí时
dài代
jīng精
shén神
。
This novel wallows in petty issues and lacks the spirit of the times.