挑拨离间

挑撥離間

tiǎobō-líjiàn

idiom #30,291

Meanings

1 to sow discord between people
2 to stir up trouble and drive a wedge

Characters

to provoke; to stir

to poke; to stir up

gap; to estrange

Examples

HSK 3

不要听信挑拨离间的话。

Búyào tīngxìn tiǎobō-líjiàn de huà.

Don't believe words that aim to drive a wedge between people.

HSK 4

他喜欢在同事之间挑拨离间。

Tā xǐhuan zài tóngshì zhījiān tiǎobō-líjiàn.

He likes to sow discord among colleagues.

Tips

mistakes

间 here is jiàn (4th tone, meaning 'gap/estrange'), NOT jiān. Pronouncing it jiān changes the meaning entirely.

Stroke Order

挑 tiāo

拨 bō

离 lí

间 jiān