挑唆 (tiǎo suō) — to incite; to stir up (trouble, discord, or conflict between others)

Definition

挑唆 (tiǎosuō) means to deliberately instigate conflict or discord between other people, often behind their backs. It implies malicious intent — goading others to quarrel or break harmony, not just expressing an opinion.

verb
to inciteto stir up (trouble, discord, or conflict between others)

Examples

  • 挑唆。
    Tā zǒng zài bèi hòu tiǎo suō tóng shì zhī jiān de máo dùn.
    He is always stirring up conflicts between colleagues behind their backs.
  • ，挑唆。
    Bié tīng tā de, tā zài tiǎo suō nǐ hé bié rén chǎo jià.
    Don't listen to him; he's trying to incite a quarrel between you and others.
  • 挑唆，。
    Zhè ge rén dào chù tiǎo suō shì fēi, dà jiā dōu hěn tǎo yàn tā.
    This person stirs up trouble everywhere, and everyone really dislikes him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

挑tiāoprovoke
唆suōincite

To 挑 (provoke) and 唆 (incite) together.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào挑tiāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挑 has 手, meaning hand, and 兆, which gives the sound.

Open 挑 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
夋
夋qūn唆suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 口 shows a mouth, and the right part 夋 was chosen for its sound.

Open 唆 →

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