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惹祸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
惹祸rěhuòto stir up troubleHSK 6, v, rank #18719, Hard
惹祸rěhuòto invite disasterHSK 6, v, rank #18719, Hard
rěhuò(re3huo4) T3
  1. 1to stir up trouble
  2. 2to invite disaster
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March 24, 2026
惹祸(惹禍)rěhuò(re3huo4)

惹祸 (rě huò) means to provoke trouble or to invite disaster, often implying that one's actions have led to negative consequences. This phrase can be used in both casual and serious contexts, indicating that someone has unintentionally caused a problem or drawn misfortune upon themselves.

Frequency#18719DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflict. The phrase 惹祸 reflects the belief that one's actions can disturb this harmony, which is vital in personal relationships and social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person (惹) poking a sleeping bear (祸), stirring it from its slumber. The bear represents trouble or disaster, and the act of poking invites the bear's wrath. The pinyin 'rě' sounds like 'ray,' as in a ray of sunlight that can also lead to unexpected storms, connecting the character to its meaning.

Meanings of 惹祸

rěhuò(re3huo4)
1to stir up trouble
2to invite disaster
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 惹祸

惹祸Simplified
惹禍Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#18719Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 惹祸

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Podcast: 惹祸

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AI Study Notes for 惹祸

Quick Contrast

惹麻烦 (rě máfan) — use 惹祸 when the trouble is more serious or has more severe consequences than just inconvenience.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person (惹) poking a sleeping bear (祸), stirring it from its slumber. The bear represents trouble or disaster, and the act of poking invites the bear's wrath. The pinyin 'rě' sounds like 'ray,' as in a ray of sunlight that can also lead to unexpected storms, connecting the character to its meaning.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone; the third tone in '惹' and the fourth tone in '祸' must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words. This phrase is often used in informal contexts, but it can also be used in serious discussions about actions that lead to trouble.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 惹祸 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to conflict and resolution. Focus on using it in sentences that describe scenarios where someone's actions lead to trouble, enhancing contextual understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflict. The phrase 惹祸 reflects the belief that one's actions can disturb this harmony, which is vital in personal relationships and social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 惹祸 with similar phrases like 招惹 (zhāo rě), which means to provoke. A common mistake is to say '我惹祸了' (wǒ rě huò le) when they mean to say '我招惹了麻烦' (wǒ zhāo rě le má fan) meaning 'I caused trouble.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惹祸

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Component Characters

to provoke
HSK 712 strokes
View full entry
huòdisaster
11 strokes
View full entry

Write 惹祸

Practice writing 惹祸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 惹祸

惹祸 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

这孩子老给父母招灾____.

This child is always making trouble for his parents.

Example Sentences for 惹祸 (1)

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1
这孩子老给父母招灾惹祸.

zhè hái zǐ lǎo gěi fù mǔ zhāo zāi rě huò.

This child is always making trouble for his parents.

Cultural Notes for 惹祸

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflict. The phrase 惹祸 reflects the belief that one's actions can disturb this harmony, which is vital in personal relationships and social interactions.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of inviting trouble through one's actions is universally understood, but in Western cultures, individuals may be more inclined to view themselves as independent agents, whereas in Chinese culture, community and collective consequences are often emphasized.

Frequently Asked Questions about 惹祸

While it can be used for minor issues, 惹祸 typically refers to more serious troubles or disasters.