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添麻烦 (tiān má fan) — to cause trouble (for someone), to bother someone

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'to cause trouble (for someone)', always about putting an extra burden on another person. Almost always follows 给 + person, e.g. 给你添麻烦了.

verb
to cause trouble (for someone)to bother someone

Examples

  • ，。
    Shí zài bù hǎo yì si, gěi nǐ tiān le zhè me duō má fan.
    I'm really sorry for causing you so much trouble.
  • 添麻烦。
    Wǒ bù xiǎng zài gěi tā tiān má fan le.
    I don't want to cause him trouble anymore.
  • 添麻烦，。
    Měi cì huí lái dōu gěi nǐ jiā tiān má fan, zhēn guò yì bú qù.
    Every time I come back I cause trouble for your family — I feel really bad.

Origin

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
忝
忝tiǎn添tiān
Same sound today

添 pairs 水 (water) with 忝, which gives its sound; the shape pictures increasing by pouring more water in.

Open 添 →

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

麻 combines 厂 and 𣏟 to represent hemp leaves.

Open 麻 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 煩; 烦 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 煩, the shape is made from 火 (fire) and 頁 (head).

Open 烦 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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