take offense at etiquette; find fault
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to take offense at a breach of etiquette; to be overly critical of protocol; to find fault with manners
informalCommonly used in contexts of weddings, family gatherings, and social etiquette. Often appears with the 'er' suffix as 挑理儿. A variant form 挑礼 (using 礼 'etiquette' instead of 理) is also encountered in spoken language.
Tā她
zhè这
me么
zuò做
dān担
xīn心
qìng亲
jia家
huì会
tiāo挑
lǐ理
r儿
。
She's worried that her in-laws will take offense at this breach of etiquette.
Dōu都
shì是
zì自
jǐ己
rén人
,
nǐ你
hái还
tiāo挑
shén什
me么
lǐ礼
ya呀
!
We're all family, so why are you being so particular about formalities!
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Nǐ你
bié别
tiāo挑
lǐ理
,
tā他
bù不
shì是
gù故
yì意
de的
。
Don't take offense; he didn't do it on purpose.