是非 (shì fēi) — right and wrong; correct vs. incorrect; dispute; quarrel; trouble (typically gossip-driven)
Definition
是非 has two distinct senses: 'right and wrong' (moral judgment) and 'gossip-driven trouble/argument' (e.g. 搬弄是非, 惹是非). The trouble sense is more like stirring up 争吵 than a direct 吵架.
noun
right and wrongcorrect vs. incorrectdisputequarreltrouble (typically gossip-driven)
Examples
- 是非，。Wǒ men yào xué huì fēn biàn shì fēi, bù néng rén yún yì yún.We must learn to distinguish right from wrong, not just follow what others say.
- ，。Tā lǎo zài tóng shì zhī jiān bān nòng shì fēi, dà jiā dōu hěn tǎo yàn tā.He is always stirring up trouble among colleagues, and everyone dislikes him.
- ，是非。Zuò rén yào hòu dao, bú yào sì chù rě shì fēi.One should be decent and not invite trouble everywhere.
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