📖 Meaning
Trouble, disputes, or misunderstandings caused by careless or provocative speech. It refers to quarrels and gossip that arise from what people say, often needlessly. The phrase emphasizes how words alone can stir up conflict.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from Ming Dynasty writer Feng Menglong's collection Stories Old and New (古今小说), in the tale 'Judge Teng's Ghostly Settlement of a Family Estate.' The original passage argues that fighting over inherited land can destroy sibling affection, suggesting that a destitute man with nothing to inherit is better off, since he avoids endless quarrels and verbal disputes. The phrase thus came to describe the trouble stirred up by loose talk and bickering.
💡 Example Usage
他不愿卷入同事间的是非口舌，只想安静地做好自己的工作。
He did not want to get drawn into the gossip and disputes among his coworkers; he just wanted to quietly do his job well.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 是非口舌
- Pinyin: shì fēi kǒu shé
- Literal Translation: right, wrong, mouth, tongue
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4