Dàfēng chuī dǎo wútóng shù, zǒng yǒu pángrén shuō chángduǎn.

大風吹倒梧桐樹, 總有旁人說長短。

Lit [If a] strong wind blows over a Chinese parasol tree, there will always be onlookers [who will] gossip about the matter.

Fig Whenever something unusual happens, people will always gossip about the causes (so just ignore them).

Note [Note: shuō cháng dào duǎn, “to gossip about others”; see also fènghuáng fēishang below.]

Topics Chinese parasol tree GOSSIP ONLOOKERS