Chinese word

找茬

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎo chá

Meaning

  • verbfind fault

Example

别总是找茬，好不好？bié zǒng shì zhǎo chá hǎo bù hǎo

Don't always find fault, okay?

Illustration for 找茬 (find fault)

More examples

顾客因为一点小事就对服务员找茬，引起了争执。gù kè yīn wèi yì diǎn xiǎo shì jiù duì fú wù yuán zhǎo chá yín qǐ le zhēng zhí

The customer found fault with the waiter over a small matter, causing an argument.

Core concept

Turns a small imperfection into a target, using it to complain or challenge someone.

Common phrases

  • 为小事找茬wèi xiǎo shì zhǎo chá

    find fault over trivial matters

  • 对服务找茬duì fú wù zhǎo chá

    find fault with the service

  • 故意找茬gù yì zhǎo chá

    deliberately find fault

Similar words

挑剔tiāo tī: Pointing out small flaws in people or things and staying dissatisfied.
指责zhǐ zé: Blaming and condemning someone for their words or actions.

Definition in Chinese

故意挑出他人或事物的不足并借此表示不满或激起争执，语感偏负面。gù yì tiāo chū tā rén huò shì wù de bù zú bìng jiè cǐ biǎo shì bù mǎn huò jī qǐ zhēng zhí yú gǎn piān fù miàn

Word origin

The compound pairs 找 (zhǎo, "look for") with 茬 (chá, "a point for criticism"), creating the image of hunting for a pretext to object.

Usage tips

  • It often describes a repeated habit of nitpicking rather than one isolated comment, so applying it to a person can sound accusatory.

Other meanings

  • complainverb
  • pick holesverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word