"Chicken feathers and garlic skins" is a commonly used Chinese idiom. Literally, it refers to chicken feathers and garlic skins, both of which are extremely tiny and worthless things. Therefore, the idiom is used as a metaphor for trivial, insignificant matters, or to describe something so minor that it is not worth arguing about. It comes from Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber in the Qing Dynasty, and in the novel it is often used to describe everyday trivial matters that are not worth spending thought on. Its contexts of use are very broad: it can be used to criticize someone for paying too much attention to details while neglecting the bigger picture, and it can also be used to persuade others not to worry about small matters. In terms of emotional coloring, the idiom carries a slight derogatory or teasing tone, suggesting that these matters are too trivial to be taken seriously. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the Chinese value of being pragmatic and distinguishing the important from the minor, reminding people to focus their energy on important matters rather than getting entangled in trivial little things.
📝 Example
1. The two of them often quarrel over trivial matters, such as who should take out the trash or who forgot to turn off the light, which is really unnecessary. (In this sentence, "鸡毛蒜皮" refers to insignificant, trivial matters.)
2. As the project leader, you should focus your energy on the overall planning, rather than obsessing over trivial details all day long. (In this sentence, "鸡毛蒜皮" refers to insignificant details that are not worth spending energy on.)