Definition
掀起 means 'to lift' a physical object (like a lid or curtain) or 'to trigger' a figurative event (a wave, controversy, revolution). Its sibling 提起 also means 'to lift' but is more common for 'to mention a topic'; 掀起 is stronger and more dramatic for setting off something big.
verb
to liftraise (a lid, cover, curtain, etc.)to triggerset off (a wave of popularity, controversy, storm, etc.)
Easily confused
- 嫌弃xián qìsound-aliketo disdain, to shun, to look down upon
Examples
- 掀起，。Tā qīngqīng de xiān qǐ le chuānglián, kàn le kàn wàimiàn.He gently lifted the curtain to look outside.
- 掀起。Zhè zhǒng xīn kējì xiān qǐ le yì chǎng quánqiú xìng de gémìng.This new technology triggered a global revolution.
- 掀起。Tā de fāyán xiān qǐ le guǎngfàn tǎolùn.His speech sparked widespread discussion.
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