ask for trouble; invite illness
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to invite illness; to bring sickness upon oneself through careless behavior
informalRefers to doing something obviously harmful to one's health, such as not dressing warmly in cold weather.
Zhè这
me么
lěng冷
de的
tiān天
chuān穿
yī一
jiàn件
dān单
yī衣
，
bù不
shì是
zhǎo找
bìng病
ma吗
？
Wearing just a thin shirt on such a cold day—aren't you asking to get sick?
Dōng冬
tiān天
hē喝
bīng冰
shuǐ水
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
zhǎo找
bìng病
。
Drinking ice water in winter is simply inviting illness.
verb
to ask for trouble; to court disaster; to look for grief
informalFigurative extension of the literal meaning. Used when someone knowingly does something that will cause problems, distress, or negative consequences.
Nǐ你
míng明
míng明
zhī知
dào道
tā他
bù不
huì会
dā答
ying应
，
hái还
qù去
wèn问
tā他
，
bù不
shì是
zhǎo找
bìng病
ma吗
？
You knew full well he wouldn't agree, yet you still went to ask him—aren't you just asking for trouble?
Gēn跟
lǎo老
bǎn板
dǐng顶
zuǐ嘴
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
zhǎo找
bìng病
。
Talking back to the boss is simply courting disaster.
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Bié别
qù去
zhǎo找
bìng病
le了
，
zhè这
shì事
méi没
fǎ法
gǎi改
biàn变
。
Stop looking for grief—this matter cannot be changed.