at every turn; on the slightest provocation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesadverb
at every turn; on the slightest provocation; frequently
literaryUsed in written language to indicate that an action (usually negative) occurs too easily or too often. Often followed by a verb phrase describing an excessive reaction.
Tā他
xìng性
qíng情
jí急
zào躁
，
dòng动
zhé辄
fā发
nù怒
。
He has a quick temper and gets angry at the drop of a hat.
Zhè这
wèi位
lǐng领
dǎo导
duì对
xià下
shǔ属
yāo要
qiú求
kē苛
kè刻
，
dòng动
zhé辄
dé得
jiù咎
。
This leader is overly demanding of his subordinates; they are blamed for every little thing.
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Liǎng两
rén人
guān关
xì系
jǐn紧
zhāng张
，
dòng动
zhé辄
è恶
yǔ语
xiāng相
jiā加
。
The relationship between the two is tense; they frequently hurl insults at each other.
Gōng公
sī司
guǎn管
lǐ理
hùn混
luàn乱
，
yuán员
gōng工
dòng动
zhé辄
jiù就
bèi被
fá罚
kuǎn款
。
The company's management is chaotic, and employees are fined on the slightest pretext.
Zài在
nà那
ge个
nián年
dài代
，
zuò作
jiā家
dòng动
zhé辄
yīn因
yán言
huò获
zuì罪
。
In that era, writers could be easily convicted for their words.