搬弄是非 (bān nòng shì fēi) — to sow discord; to make mischief; to tell tales

Definition

A set-phrase verb meaning to stir up trouble by gossiping — repeating or twisting stories to make people quarrel. Strongly negative: the speaker is portrayed as a troublemaker, not a neutral gossip.

verb
to sow discordto make mischiefto tell tales

Examples

  • 。
    Tā zǒng ài bān nòng bié rén de shì fēi.
    He always likes to stir up trouble by gossiping about others.
  • 搬弄是非。
    Zhè ge rén zuì xǐ huan bān nòng shì fēi.
    This person most enjoys sowing discord.
  • 搬弄是非。
    Tā de huà míng xiǎn shì zài bān nòng shì fēi.
    Her words are clearly meant to make mischief.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

搬弄move about; handle
搬bānmove弄nònghandle
联合Side by side
是非right and wrong
是shìright非fēiwrong
联合Side by side

搬弄 suggests moving and handling talk, while 是非 means right and wrong; together they stir up gossip to cause discord.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān搬bān
Same sound today

The left side 扌 is a hand, showing a hand-related action, while 般 gives the sound bān.

Open 搬 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →

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