nitpick; find fault; carp
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to nitpick; to find fault with; to carp at minor flaws
informalTypically implies deliberately seeking out minor faults or errors in someone's words or actions. The 儿 suffix marks this as informal and colloquial. Often carries a negative connotation of excessive or unreasonable criticism.
Tā他
jiù就
ài爱
tiāo挑
cì刺
r儿
，
kàn看
shén什
me么
dōu都
bù不
shùn顺
yǎn眼
。
He just loves to nitpick; nothing looks right to him.
Nǐ你
bié别
lǎo老
shì是
tiāo挑
cì刺
r儿
le了
，
zhè这
diǎn点
xiǎo小
shì事
zhí值
de得
ma吗
？
Don't always be finding fault. Is this little thing even worth it?
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Gù顾
kè客
gù故
yì意
tiāo挑
cì刺
r儿
shuō说
zhè这
dào道
cài菜
tài太
xián咸
le了
，
xiǎng想
shǎo少
fù付
qián钱
。
The customer deliberately nitpicked, saying the dish was too salty, wanting to pay less.
Wǒ我
men们
zài在
jī鸡
dàn蛋
lǐ里
tiāo挑
cì刺
r儿
，
yě也
yào要
bǎ把
wèn问
tí题
zhǎo找
chū出
lái来
。
Even if we're picking bones out of an egg, we still need to find the problems.