Definition
挑拨离间 is a four-character idiom (chéngyǔ) meaning 'to sow discord' or 'to drive a wedge between people'. The literal breakdown is 挑拨 'stir up' + 离间 'alienate'. It is used as a verb phrase, often appearing with 在...之间 ('among...') or followed by an object indicating the target. You can use it in both spoken and written Chinese to describe deliberate attempts to damage relationships.
f.e.
to sow discordto drive a wedge between people
Examples
- 挑拨离间，。Tā zǒng zài tóngshì zhījiān tiǎo bō lí jiàn, ràng dàjiā hùxiāng cāiyí.He always stirs up discord among colleagues, making everyone suspicious of each other.
- ，挑拨离间。Yǒuxiē rén wèile gèrén lìyì, gùyì zài tuánduì lǐ tiǎo bō lí jiàn.Some people deliberately stir up discord within the team for personal gain.
- 挑拨离间。Xiǎorén de tiǎo bō lí jiàn ràng hǎo péngyou biàn chéng le dírén.A petty person's sowing of discord turned good friends into enemies.
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