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惹事生非 (rě shì shēng fēi) — to stir up trouble, to provoke a dispute

Definition

A four-character chengyu meaning to deliberately stir up trouble or provoke disputes — stronger than simply 'causing problems' because it implies intentional provocation.

verb
to stir up troubleto provoke a dispute

Examples

  • 惹事生非，。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài dān wèi lǐ rě shì shēng fēi, gǎo dé dà jiā dōu bù yú kuài.
    He always likes to stir up trouble at work, making everyone unhappy.
  • 惹事生非，？
    Nǐ shǎo zài wài miàn rě shì shēng fēi, ān ān wěn wěn guò rì zi bù hǎo ma?
    Stop provoking trouble outside; isn't it better to live a stable life?
  • ，惹事生非。
    Zhè jiàn shì běn lái hěn jiǎn dān, jiù shì yǒu rén rě shì shēng fēi cái biàn de fù zá.
    This matter was simple at first; it only became complicated because someone stirred up trouble.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

惹事
惹rěstir up事shìtrouble
动宾Verb + object
生非
生shēngcreate非fēitrouble
动宾Verb + object

惹事 is stirring up trouble and 生非 is creating trouble, so together they mean provoking disputes.

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 →

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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 →
Appears in
Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

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