大街小巷

• Pinyin: dà jiē xiǎo xiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = big; 街 = 行 + 圭 (street); 小 = small; 巷 = lane, alley

Meaning

Every street and alley; all over town; everywhere in the city. An idiom describing widespread presence throughout a place.

Used to emphasize that something is ubiquitous or that an action covers all areas of a city or town. Common when describing searches, news spreading, or the popularity of trends.

Examples

1. 这首歌红遍大街小巷，走到哪儿都能听到。 This song became popular everywhere — you can hear it wherever you go.
2. 警察在大街小巷搜寻逃犯的踪迹。 Police searched every street and alley for traces of the fugitive.
3. 春节期间，大街小巷张灯结彩，到处洋溢着节日气氛。 During Spring Festival, every street and alley was decorated with lanterns and festive colors.

Usage Guide

Context: description, ubiquity

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 这个品牌的奶茶店开遍了大街小巷。(This bubble tea brand has opened shops on every street and alley.)
• 消息传得大街小巷都知道了。(The news spread so that everyone in town knew.)

Don't Say

• 我的房间大街小巷 (大街小巷 refers to urban spaces — don't use it for indoor locations)

Origin & History

Idiom combining 大街 (main streets) + 小巷 (small alleys) to represent all thoroughfares, hence everywhere in town.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal