Definition
惹事生非 is a variant of the chengyu 惹是生非, meaning 'to stir up trouble' or 'to provoke a dispute'. It is used as a verb phrase, often in contexts where someone deliberately causes conflict or creates unnecessary problems. The literal components — 惹 (provoke), 事 (matter), 生 (produce), 非 (wrong) — hint at the meaning, but the phrase as a whole is idiomatic.
v
to stir up troubleto provoke a dispute
Examples
- 惹事生非，。Tā zǒng xǐhuan zài dānwèi lǐ rě shì shēng fēi, gǎo de dàjiā dōu bù yúkuài.He always likes to stir up trouble at work, making everyone unhappy.
- 惹事生非，？Nǐ shǎo zài wàimiàn rě shì shēng fēi, ān'ānwěnwěn guò rìzi bù hǎo ma?Stop provoking trouble outside; isn't it better to live a stable life?
- ，惹事生非。Zhè jiàn shì běnlái hěn jiǎndān, jiùshì yǒurén rě shì shēng fēi cái biàn de fùzá.This matter was simple at first; it only became complicated because someone stirred up trouble.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.