鸡毛蒜皮

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jī máo suàn pí
• English Translation: Chicken feathers and garlic skins (trivialities)
• Idiom Composition: 「鸡毛」（Chicken feathers (symbolizing something light and worthless)）＋「蒜皮」（Garlic skins (symbolizing something thin and useless)）
• Meaning: A metaphor for matters that are extremely insignificant, worthless, or trivial, much like chicken feathers or the thin skins of garlic.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「鸡毛蒜皮」 contains the following nuances:

• Worthlessness and Triviality: By listing items that are essentially 'trash,' the idiom emphasizes that the topic is not worth the time or effort to discuss or pay attention to.
• Everyday Trifles: It stands in contrast to major affairs of state or serious problems, usually referring to small domestic or social annoyances that are part of daily life.

3. Usage

「鸡毛蒜皮」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing conflicts: Used when the cause of a dispute, such as a quarrel between a couple or neighbors, is seen by others as completely insignificant.
  • Example:「这对夫妻经常为了鸡毛蒜皮的小事吵架。」
    （This couple is always arguing over trivial matters.）
• Judging priorities: Used to advise someone not to get bogged down in minor details when they should be focusing on important tasks.
  • Example:「别再计较那些鸡毛蒜皮了，我们得抓紧时间完成主要任务。」
    （Stop fussing over those trifles; we need to hurry and finish the main task.）
• Negative evaluation: Used to dismiss someone's concerns or conversation as having no real value.
  • Example:「他整天只关心那些鸡毛蒜皮，从来不考虑长远的发展。」
    （He spends all day worrying about insignificant details and never considers long-term development.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这种鸡毛蒜皮的事情就不要去麻烦领导了。
   （You shouldn't bother the boss with such trivial matters.）
2. 生活中充满了鸡毛蒜皮，关键看你怎么面对。
   （Life is full of petty trifles, but what matters is how you face them.）
3. 大家都很忙，没时间听你讲这些鸡毛蒜皮。
   （Everyone is busy; no one has time to listen to your nonsense.）
4. 虽然是鸡毛蒜皮的小矛盾，如果不及时解决，也可能变成大问题。
   （Even though it's a minor conflict, it could become a big problem if not solved quickly.）
5. 他心胸开阔，从不把鸡毛蒜皮放在心上。
   （He is broad-minded and never dwells on insignificant things.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Vivid Imagery: By using 'chicken feathers' and 'garlic skins'—common household waste products—the idiom creates a relatable and down-to-earth metaphor for English learners to visualize.
• Frequency of Use: This is an extremely common colloquialism in daily Chinese conversation. It is most often used to modify the noun 小事 (xiǎoshì), meaning 'small matter'.
• Origin: Unlike many idioms that come from classical literature, this is a piece of folk slang that became established in vernacular novels during the Qing Dynasty (清朝).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 细枝末节 (xì zhī mò jié): Minor details or non-essential parts of a matter.
  • 微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào): Something so small or insignificant that it is not worth mentioning.link
  • 无足轻重 (wú zú qīng zhòng): Of no importance; insignificant.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 举足轻重 (jǔ zú qīng zhòng): To play a decisive role; a person or action that is so important it affects the whole situation.
  • 大是大非 (dà shì dà fēi): Major issues of principle regarding right and wrong.
  • 至关重要 (zhì guān zhòng yào): Extremely important or crucial.link
  • 重中之重 (zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng): The most important among many important things.link

6. Summary

鸡毛蒜皮 (jī máo suàn pí) is a colloquial idiom used to describe 'worthless trifles' or 'insignificant details.' It often appears in the context of domestic disputes or daily chores that are considered petty. It is frequently used in the phrase 鸡毛蒜皮的小事 (jī máo suàn pí de xiǎoshì) to emphasize that a matter is not worth worrying about compared to more important issues.