風聲鶴唳 fēng shēng hè lì

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. wind sighing and crane calling (idiom)
  2. fig. to panic at the slightest move
  3. to be jittery

CHARACTERS

風 fēng wind; air; manners, atmosphere
聲 shēng sound, voice, noise; tone; music
鶴 hè crane; Grus species (various)
唳 lì cry of bird; cry