tiu1 zeoi2挑嘴
Jyutpingtiu1 zeoi2
Yaletīu jéui
Definition
To sow discord or stir up trouble between people.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the act of intentionally causing conflict or bad blood between others through gossip or manipulation. It carries a strong negative connotation of being a troublemaker who enjoys seeing people at odds. Unlike simply gossiping, this implies a deliberate strategy to break relationships.
Examples
Don't sow discord here, it makes everyone so unhappy.
He loves sowing discord the most, always wanting people to fight.
Related words
Common phrases
likes to sow discord
specializes in sowing discord
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin term 挑食, which means to be a picky eater. In Cantonese, 挑嘴 is strictly about interpersonal conflict and never refers to food preferences.
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.
