to incite, to irritate, to offend, to vex

JLPT N5 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Nuances

The character (rě) primarily means "to incite," "to irritate," or "to cause trouble." It often appears in contexts where someone or something provokes a negative reaction or conflict.

Common Collocations

  • (rě nù): to anger or irritate someone
  • 麻烦 (rě máfan): to cause trouble
  • 争议 (rě zhēngyì): to provoke controversy

These collocations are frequently used in spoken and written Chinese to describe situations where actions or words lead to problems or disputes.

Register and Tone

is generally neutral but often appears in informal or conversational contexts. It can carry a slightly negative tone because it involves causing irritation or trouble.

Common Confusion

is sometimes confused with (zhāo), which also means "to cause" or "to attract," but often has a more neutral or positive nuance, while usually implies a negative consequence.

Understanding helps learners express situations involving provocation, irritation, or trouble-making naturally and accurately.

Example Sentences

His words irritated everyone.

Don't cause trouble, keep a low profile.

This matter has caused quite a bit of controversy.