zou6 jiu4 sang1 si6造謠生事造谣生事
Jyutpingzou6 jiu4 sang1 si6
Yalejouh yìuh sāng sih
Definition
To start rumors and stir up trouble, creating confusion by spreading false information.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the person is acting with malicious intent to disrupt social harmony. It is often used to describe someone who is a habitual troublemaker rather than someone who just made a single mistake. While it sounds formal, it is frequently used in everyday conversation to criticize disruptive behavior.
Examples
He is always starting rumours and stirring up trouble, making the office a mess.
Why do you have to start rumours and stir up trouble, ruining other people's relationships?
Related words
Common phrases
a person who starts rumours and stirs up trouble
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simple gossiping, but this term specifically implies an active, intentional effort to create chaos or conflict rather than just talking behind someone's back.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
