挑衅

挑釁

tiǎoxìn

verb HSK 7-9 #8,157

Meanings

HSK 3

他的行为是一种挑衅。

Tā de xíngwéi shì yī zhǒng tiǎoxìn.

His behavior was a provocation.

HSK 6

不要挑衅比你强壮的人。

Bùyào tiǎoxìn bǐ nǐ qiángzhuàng de rén.

Do not provoke someone stronger than you.

usage

挑衅 is stronger and more aggressive than 挑起. It implies deliberately antagonizing someone to start a conflict.

memory

挑 (to pick/provoke) + 衅 (quarrel/crack) = picking a fight through provocation.

挑 tiāo

衅 xìn