bới việc

Definition

Verb phrase:
- To create more work: To unnecessarily generate additional tasks or complications, often by interfering, being overly meticulous, or making a simple situation complex.
- To create difficulties / to make trouble: To deliberately or thoughtlessly cause problems, hassle, or complications for others.

Usage Examples

Verb phrase:
- Đừng có bới việc ra nữa, mọi thứ đã xong rồi. (Don't create more work; everything is finished already.)
- Cô ấy thích bới việc cho người khác. (She likes to create difficulties for others.)
- Anh ta bới việc bằng cách đặt ra những câu hỏi không cần thiết. (He created more work by asking unnecessary questions.)

Advanced Usage

The phrase often carries a negative connotation, implying the action is meddlesome, nitpicky, or done with a troublesome intent. It is frequently used in informal or colloquial contexts to criticize someone's behavior.

Variants and Related Words

Bới móc (v): To dig up, to nitpick (often about faults or old issues).
- Báo chí hay bới móc đời tư của người nổi tiếng. (The press often digs up the private lives of celebrities.)
Gây khó dễ (v): To cause difficulties, to make things hard for someone.
- Họ cố tình gây khó dễ trong quá trình đàm phán. (They intentionally caused difficulties during the negotiation process.)

Synonyms

Related Idioms

Bới lông tìm vết: Literally "to part the feathers to find a blemish"; meaning to nitpick, to go out of one's way to find fault.
- Sếp lúc nào cũng bới lông tìm vết trong báo cáo. (The boss always nitpicks the report.)
Chuyện bé xé ra to: To make a mountain out of a molehill; related in spirit to creating trouble from a minor issue.
- Đó chỉ là hiểu lầm nhỏ, đừng chuyện bé xé ra to. (It's just a small misunderstanding; don't make a mountain out of a molehill.)