闹别扭

鬧彆扭

nàobièniu

verb #25,794

Meanings

1 to have a falling-out
2 to be at odds with someone
3 to sulk
4 to be difficult

Characters

to make trouble; to be noisy

contrary; stubborn (bound)

to twist (reduced to neutral tone here)

Examples

他们俩又在闹别扭了，谁都不理谁。

Tāmen liǎ yòu zài nào bièniu le, shuí dōu bù lǐ shuí.

Those two are at odds again — neither one will acknowledge the other.

别为了这点小事闹别扭。

Bié wèile zhè diǎn xiǎoshì nào bièniu.

Don't fall out over such a trivial matter.

Tips

usage

闹别扭 describes interpersonal friction — usually a quiet sulk or mutual cold-shoulder between people who are usually close. More about passive tension than open argument. Note the polyphone: 别 takes its fourth-tone reading here (not the everyday 别), and 扭 is reduced to neutral tone.

Stroke Order

闹 nào

别 bié

扭 niǔ