是非

shìfēi
noun HSK 7 #6,492

Meanings

  1. 1 right and wrong
  2. 2 quarrel
  3. 3 gossip

Characters

Literally 'right-wrong' — matters of right and wrong, or gossip and disputes

Examples

Wǒmen yào fēnqīng shìfēi.
We must distinguish right from wrong.
Tā bù xǐhuan bānnòng shìfēi.
She doesn't like to stir up trouble.
Zhè jiàn shì de shìfēi hěn nán pànduàn.
The rights and wrongs of this matter are hard to judge.

Tips

usage
是非 has two main uses: (1) right and wrong as an abstract concept — 分清是非, 是非; (2) gossip, disputes, trouble — 是非 (stir up trouble), 是非 (invite trouble).
memory
(yes/right) + (no/wrong) = the concept of right vs wrong, and by extension, the disputes that arise from disagreements.

Stroke Order

shì
fēi