Chinese word

惹事

Pronunciation

Pinyinrě shì

Meaning

  • verbcause trouble

Example

别惹事，我们快走吧。bié rě shì wǒ men kuài zǒu ba

Don't cause trouble; let's get going.

Illustration for 惹事 (cause trouble)

More examples

大家都提醒他别惹事，但他改不掉习惯。dà jiā dōu tí xǐng tā bié rě shì dàn tā gǎi bú diào xí guàn

Everyone reminds him not to cause trouble, but he cannot break the habit.

Core concept

An action that draws trouble or conflict into the situation.

Common phrases

  • 别惹事了bié rě shì le

    don't cause trouble

  • 老是惹事lǎo shì rě shì

    always cause trouble

Similar words

惹麻烦rě má fán: Bring trouble or inconvenience upon oneself or others through one's actions.
找麻烦zhǎo má fán: Deliberately create trouble by getting involved with someone or provoking a dispute.

Definition in Chinese

做出招致麻烦或冲突的行为，使他人不满、发生争执或引起骚动。zuò chū zhāo zhì má fán huò chōng tū de xíng wéi shǐ tā rén bù mǎn fā shēng zhēng zhí huò yín qǐ sāo dòng

Word origin

惹事 (rěshì, "cause trouble") is formed from 惹 (rě, "provoke") + 事 (shì, "matter or affair"), presenting trouble as a matter that someone draws into the situation.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this verb often expresses a warning or criticism rather than a neutral description, so it can sound blaming when directed at a person.

Other meanings

  • cause a disturbanceverb
  • pick a fightverb

Opposites

  • 维护秩序wéi hù zhì xùmaintain orderverb

Related words

  • 惹是生非rě shì shēng fēistir up troubleidiom
  • 惹麻烦rě má fáncause troubleverb

Word lists with this word