wú shì shēng fēi: 无事生非 - To Make Trouble out of Nothing, Stir up Trouble

• Keywords: wushishengfei, 无事生非, wu shi sheng fei, Chinese idiom for troublemaker, making trouble out of nothing in Chinese, stir up trouble Chinese meaning, create drama, Chinese chengyu, troublemaking idiom, starting arguments for no reason
• Summary: 无事生非 (wú shì shēng fēi) is a popular Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe someone who creates problems, conflict, or drama where none previously existed. It literally translates to “from no issue, create conflict” and is often used to criticize people who stir up trouble out of boredom, malice, or a desire for attention. This is the perfect term for describing a “drama queen” or someone who loves to “stir the pot.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wú shì shēng fēi
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: N/A (Widely used but not on the official HSK vocabulary lists)
• Concise Definition: To deliberately create trouble or start a conflict where there is none.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a perfectly calm and peaceful situation. Now, picture someone walking in and, for no good reason, starting a rumor, picking a fight, or making a huge deal out of a tiny detail. That person is engaging in 无事生非. It’s the act of manufacturing problems from thin air, often because someone has too much free time or enjoys chaos.

• 无 (wú): without, no, nothing. It signifies a state of absence or lack.
• 事 (shì): matter, issue, affair, business. It refers to a situation or event.
• 生 (shēng): to create, to produce, to give birth to.
• 非 (fēi): wrong, conflict, dispute, not right. In this context, it strongly implies discord or trouble.

These characters combine literally and elegantly: 无 (without) 事 (an issue) 生 (create) 非 (conflict). The meaning is transparent—to create conflict when there isn't an issue to begin with.

The idiom 无事生非 is deeply rooted in the Chinese cultural emphasis on social harmony (和, hé). Traditional Chinese values prize stability, peace, and smooth interpersonal relationships. Acting in a way that disrupts this harmony without cause is seen as immature, foolish, and highly undesirable.

• Contrast with Western Concepts: While English has phrases like “stirring the pot” or “making a mountain out of a molehill,” 无事生非 carries a stronger condemnation. “Stirring the pot” can sometimes have a playful or mischievous connotation. 无事生非, however, is almost always a serious criticism of someone's character. It's less about being a “drama queen” (which can imply attention-seeking) and more about a fundamental flaw of being a troublemaker who destabilizes the group for their own selfish or nonsensical reasons. It directly opposes the ideal of a mature, considerate person who contributes to a peaceful environment.

This idiom is extremely common in everyday life and carries a strong negative connotation. It's a form of accusation or a sharp piece of advice.

• In Daily Conversation: Parents often use it to scold children who are fighting out of boredom. (“你们两个别在这里无事生非! - Nǐmen liǎng ge bié zài zhèlǐ wú shì shēng fēi!” - “You two, stop making trouble here!”).
• In the Workplace: It's frequently used to describe office politics. An employee who spreads rumors or creates friction between colleagues is a classic example of someone who is 无事生非.
• On Social Media: The term is perfect for describing online trolls or people who deliberately start arguments in comment sections for entertainment.
• Formality: It can be used in both informal scolding and more formal written critiques. Its meaning is direct and unambiguous.

• Example 1:
  • 他这个人就喜欢无事生非，你别理他。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén jiù xǐhuān wú shì shēng fēi, nǐ bié lǐ tā.
  • English: That guy just loves to make trouble out of nothing; don't pay any attention to him.
  • Analysis: This is a common way to describe someone's personality, warning another person to stay away from a known troublemaker.
• Example 2:
  • 公司里本来很平静，直到他来了，天天无事生非。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī lǐ běnlái hěn píngjìng, zhídào tā lái le, tiāntiān wú shì shēng fēi.
  • English: The office was originally very peaceful until he came and started stirring up trouble every day.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the “before and after” effect of a troublemaker, emphasizing that the problems were created, not pre-existing.
• Example 3:
  • 拜托你不要再无事生非了，我们都想好好工作。
  • Pinyin: Bàituō nǐ búyào zài wú shì shēng fēi le, wǒmen dōu xiǎng hǎohāo gōngzuò.
  • English: Please stop making trouble; we all just want to work in peace.
  • Analysis: A direct plea or command. The use of “拜托 (bàituō)” makes it sound like the speaker is exasperated.
• Example 4:
  • 有些人就是闲得慌，总想在网上无事生非，吸引别人的注意。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén jiùshì xián de huāng, zǒng xiǎng zài wǎngshàng wú shì shēng fēi, xīyǐn biérén de zhùyì.
  • English: Some people are just bored out of their minds and always want to stir up trouble online to get others' attention.
  • Analysis: This perfectly describes the motivation of many internet trolls—boredom (“闲得慌”) leading to troublemaking.
• Example 5:
  • 你是不是觉得生活太无聊了，非要这样无事生非？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì juéde shēnghuó tài wúliáo le, fēi yào zhèyàng wú shì shēng fēi?
  • English: Do you just think life is too boring that you have to make trouble like this?
  • Analysis: A rhetorical question used to confront someone, implying their actions are due to boredom or a poor attitude.
• Example 6:
  • 这本来是一件小事，可他偏要无事生非，把它闹大了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běnlái shì yí jiàn xiǎoshì, kě tā piān yào wú shì shēng fēi, bǎ tā nào dà le.
  • English: This was originally a small matter, but he just had to make trouble and blow it out of proportion.
  • Analysis: This shows how 无事生非 can also mean escalating a minor issue into a major conflict. “偏要 (piān yào)” emphasizes the person's stubborn insistence on causing trouble.
• Example 7:
  • 父母总是告诫我们，在学校要安分守己，不要无事生非。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zǒngshì gàojiè wǒmen, zài xuéxiào yào ān fèn shǒu jǐ, búyào wú shì shēng fēi.
  • English: Our parents always warned us to behave ourselves at school and not cause trouble.
  • Analysis: This sentence pairs 无事生非 with its antonym, “安分守己 (ān fèn shǒu jǐ)” (to know one's place and behave), providing excellent context.
• Example 8:
  • 他们的关系很好，直到一个爱无事生非的朋友介入。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de guānxì hěn hǎo, zhídào yí ge ài wú shì shēng fēi de péngyou jièrù.
  • English: Their relationship was great, until a friend who loves to create drama got involved.
  • Analysis: Shows the destructive power of a troublemaker on interpersonal relationships.
• Example 9:
  • 在国际关系中，任何一方的无事生非都可能导致严重的后果。
  • Pinyin: Zài guójì guānxì zhōng, rènhé yī fāng de wú shì shēng fēi dōu kěnéng dǎozhì yánzhòng de hòuguǒ.
  • English: In international relations, any party making trouble out of nothing can lead to serious consequences.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the idiom in a very formal and serious context.
• Example 10:
  • 我警告你，别在我的团队里无事生非，否则后果自负。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jǐnggào nǐ, bié zài wǒ de tuánduì lǐ wú shì shēng fēi, fǒuzé hòuguǒ zìfù.
  • English: I'm warning you, don't stir up trouble in my team, or you'll have to bear the consequences yourself.
  • Analysis: A stern warning from a person in a position of authority, like a manager or team leader.

• Intent is Key: A common mistake for learners is to use 无事生非 for any situation where trouble occurs. This idiom implies intent or at least willful foolishness. If someone accidentally breaks a plate, they are not being `无事生非`; they are being `不小心 (bù xiǎoxīn)` (careless). `无事生非` is for when someone *creates* the problem, not when they accidentally stumble into one.
• False Friend: “Proactive” vs. “Troublemaking”: Don't confuse this with being proactive. A proactive person sees a *potential* future problem and addresses it now. A person who is `无事生非` sees a *current lack* of problems and decides to create one. The former prevents trouble, the latter manufactures it.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • 他没看路，撞倒了花瓶，真是无事生非。 (He wasn't looking, knocked over the vase, he's really making trouble out of nothing.)
  • Why it's wrong: This was an accident. The trouble wasn't created from a state of peace, but from a moment of carelessness. The idiom doesn't fit. A better sentence would be: `他太不小心了 (Tā tài bù xiǎoxīn le)` - “He's so careless.”

• 没事找事 (méi shì zhǎo shì): A highly colloquial and almost identical synonym. It literally means “to have no issue and look for an issue.” It's used interchangeably with `无事生非` in casual conversation.
• 挑拨离间 (tiǎo bō lí jiàn): A specific way to be `无事生非`. It means “to sow discord” or “to drive a wedge between people,” often by spreading rumors.
• 惹是生非 (rě shì shēng fēi): A very close synonym. `惹 (rě)` means “to provoke,” so this term means “to provoke a matter and create a conflict.” The feeling is extremely similar.
• 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu): To create something from nothing. While it can be used for any invention, it's often used negatively to mean fabricating rumors or making false accusations, which is a common tool for someone who is `无事生非`.
• 唯恐天下不乱 (wéi kǒng tiān xià bù luàn): “To fear only that the world is not in chaos.” This describes the mindset of an agent of chaos, a person who thrives on drama and conflict. It's a more extreme version of the personality type that engages in `无事生非`.
• 安分守己 (ān fèn shǒu jǐ): (Antonym) To know one's place and abide by the rules; to be content with one's lot. This is the ideal behavior that `无事生非` disrupts.
• 息事宁人 (xī shì níng rén): (Antonym) To quell a dispute and pacify people; to pour oil on troubled waters. This is the action one takes to fix the problems created by a `无事生非` person.