使性子 (shǐ xìng zǐ) — to throw a tantrum; to get into a bad mood on purpose

Definition

A verb meaning to lose one's temper or sulk deliberately, like throwing a tantrum. It's a set verb-object phrase — 使 (shǐ, 'to use/apply') + 性子 (xìngzi, 'temper') — and takes 了 after the object to show completion.

verb
to throw a tantrumto get into a bad mood on purpose

Examples

  • 使性子
    Bié zài zhè r shǐ xìng zǐ le, dà jiā dōu děng zhe ne.
    Stop throwing a tantrum here — everyone is waiting.
  • Tā yòu zài shǐ shén me xìng zi? méi rén rě tā a.
    What kind of mood is she in again? Nobody provoked her.
  • Tā yí bù mǎn yì jiù huì shǐ xìng zi, wǒ men dōu hěn tóu téng.
    As soon as he's unhappy, he throws a tantrum — it's a headache for all of us.

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