惹是生非

rěshì-shēngfēi

idiom #25,093

Meanings

1 to stir up trouble
2 to cause problems
3 to make mischief

Characters

to provoke; to attract (trouble)

right; disputes of right and wrong

to produce; to create

wrong; not; disputes

Examples

HSK 7-9

他从小就喜欢惹是生非，让父母头疼不已。

Tā cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān rěshì-shēngfēi, ràng fùmǔ tóuténg bùyǐ.

He has liked stirring up trouble since childhood, giving his parents no end of headaches.

HSK 7-9

别在外面惹是生非，给家里丢脸。

Bié zài wàimiàn rěshì-shēngfēi, gěi jiāli diūliǎn.

Don't go stirring up trouble outside and embarrassing the family.

Tips

memory

惹 means to provoke or attract, 是 here means 'right-and-wrong disputes', and 非 means 'wrong'. Literally: to attract disputes and create wrongs - to make trouble out of nothing.

Stroke Order

惹 rě

是 shì

生 shēng

非 fēi