Definition & Meaning

be captious (about somebody's speech and action); pick holes in; find fault (with)

Word usage

tiāo cì r

挑 刺 儿

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Chinese dictionary
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v.dialbe captious (about somebody's speech and action); pick holes in; find fault (with)
- tā jiù ài tiāo cì r
  她就爱挑刺儿。
  She's always finding fault with people.
- wǒ yī shuō huà tā jiù tiāo cì r
  我一说话，她就挑刺儿。
  As soon as I say anything, she picks holes in it.
- tā duì měi yī jiàn shì měi yī gè rén dōu yào tiāo cì r
  他对每一件事、每一个人都要挑刺儿。
  He finds fault with everything and everybody.
- wǒ bù xiǎng nǐ chéng tiān gěi wǒ tiāo cì r
  我不想你成天给我挑刺儿。
  I don't want you to be forever finding fault with me.
synonym
tiāo ti挑剔 tiāo yǎn挑眼 zhǎo chá r找碴儿

Word usage

Separable word
"挑" and "刺儿" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 我们都被他挑过刺儿。
  We were all pick out splinters by him.
- 他爱挑别人的刺儿。
  He likes picking out splinters with other people.
- 他挑不出一点儿刺儿，只好沉默不语。
  He couldn't pick out any splinter, so he had to keep silent.

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