兴风作浪

興風作浪

xīngfēng-zuòlàng

idiom #30,243

Meanings

1 to stir up wind and waves
2 to incite trouble
3 to make mischief

Characters

to stir up; to raise

to make; to create

Examples

HSK 3

他总是在公司里兴风作浪。

Tā zǒngshì zài gōngsī lǐ xīngfēng-zuòlàng.

He is always stirring up trouble at the company.

HSK 3

几个别有用心的人在网上兴风作浪。

Jǐ gè biéyǒuyòngxīn de rén zài wǎngshàng xīngfēng-zuòlàng.

A few people with ulterior motives are stirring up trouble online.

HSK 7-9

不要让流言蜚语兴风作浪。

Búyào ràng liúyánfēiyǔ xīngfēng-zuòlàng.

Don't let rumors stir up mischief.

Tips

history

From the Yuan anonymous drama 《锁魔镜》: a mythical river dragon 兴风作浪, 'stirring up wind and waves, harming the people'. Originally literal (a water demon), now figurative (a human trouble-maker).

usage

Strongly negative - the agent is always a mischief-maker or troublemaker. Compare with the neutral 掀起风浪 ('to stir up waves').

Stroke Order

兴 xīng

风 fēng

作 zuò

浪 làng