pick a quarrel; seek opportunity (for wrongdoing)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to pick a quarrel deliberately; to provoke trouble
Often used with words like 闹事 or 滋事. Implies intentional provocation to create conflict.
Tā他
hē喝
duō多
le了
，
dào到
chù处
xún寻
xìn衅
nào闹
shì事
。
He drank too much and went around picking fights and making trouble everywhere.
Yán严
jìn禁
zài在
gōng公
gòng共
chǎng场
suǒ所
xún寻
xìn衅
zī滋
shì事
。
It is strictly forbidden to provoke trouble in public places.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Nà那
liǎng两
gè个
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
hù互
xiāng相
xún寻
xìn衅
，
zuì最
hòu后
dǎ打
le了
qǐ起
lái来
。
Those two young men provoked each other and ended up fighting.
verb
to seek an opportunity; to look for a chance (to do something bad)
Usually used for criminal or negative actions such as theft. Similar to 伺机 but with a stronger sense of actively looking for an opening.
Xiǎo小
tōu偷
zài在
rén人
qún群
zhōng中
xún寻
xìn衅
xíng行
qiè窃
。
The pickpocket was looking for opportunities to steal in the crowd.
Tā他
yī一
zhí直
zài在
mén门
kǒu口
pái徘
huái徊
，
xún寻
xìn衅
zuò作
àn案
。
He kept pacing at the door, looking for a chance to commit the crime.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Dǎi歹
tú徒
xún寻
xìn衅
xià下
shǒu手
，
xìng幸
hǎo好
bèi被
bǎo保
ān安
jí及
shí时
zhì制
zhǐ止
。
The criminal was looking for an opportunity to strike, but fortunately was stopped by security in time.