自讨苦吃

自討苦吃
zìtǎo-kǔchī
idiom #22,204

Meanings

  1. 1 to ask for trouble
  2. 2 to bring suffering upon oneself
  3. 3 to make a rod for one's own back

Examples

Tā míngzhī dào nàge xiàngmù yǒu fēngxiǎn háiyào jiē, zhēnshì zìtǎokǔchī.
He knew the project was risky but took it on anyway — truly asking for trouble.
Bù tīng quàngào, nǐ zhè shì zìtǎokǔchī.
By not listening to advice, you are bringing trouble on yourself.

Tips

memory
Literally 'to seek out bitterness to eat' — you are the one actively going looking for your own suffering. Picture someone walking up to a bitter melon and taking a bite on purpose.

Stroke Order

tǎo
chī