hing1 fung1 zok3 long6興風作浪兴风作浪
Jyutpinghing1 fung1 zok3 long6
Yalehīng fūng jok lohng
Definition
To incite and create trouble; to stir up disputes.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, implying that someone is actively and maliciously causing chaos or discord. It is frequently used to describe people who manipulate situations from the shadows rather than confronting others directly. While it is a four character idiom, it is commonly used in spoken Cantonese to criticize disruptive behavior in workplaces or social groups.
Examples
He is always stirring up trouble behind our backs, making everyone unhappy.
Why are you inciting trouble here and ruining the team's cooperation?
Related words
Common phrases
to be stirring up trouble right now
to incite trouble behind the scenes
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of weather or natural disasters, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically for human behavior. Avoid using it to describe actual storms or wind, as that would sound unnatural and confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
