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惹事 (rě shì) — to cause trouble, to stir up trouble

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to cause / stir up trouble' — the trouble-maker stirs it, unlike 出事 where trouble happens on its own (an accident, an incident).

verb
to cause troubleto stir up trouble

Examples

  • 惹事。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan rě shì.
    He always likes to cause trouble.
  • 。
    Tā zuó tiān yòu rě liǎo shì.
    He caused trouble again yesterday.
  • 。
    Nǐ bié zài wài miàn rě shén me shì.
    Don't cause any trouble outside.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

惹rěstir
事shìmatter

惹 describes stirring, and 事 refers to matters, together meaning to cause trouble.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 惹 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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