Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pick a quarrel, to provoke an incident: To intentionally create trouble, find fault, or start an argument with someone without a valid reason. The action is deliberate and aims to cause conflict or annoyance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta luôn tìm cách kiếm chuyện với đồng nghiệp. (He always finds ways to pick a quarrel with his colleagues.)
  • Đừng kiếm chuyện với tôi nữa! (Stop provoking an incident with me!)
  • Cô ấy kiếm chuyện chỉ vì một lỗi nhỏ. (She picked a quarrel over just a small mistake.)

Advanced Usage

• "Kiếm chuyện gây sự": This is a common, emphatic collocation meaning "to pick a quarrel and start a fight/provoke a confrontation."
  • Hắn đến đây chỉ để kiếm chuyện gây sự. (He came here just to pick a quarrel and start a fight.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gây chuyện (verb): To cause trouble, to stir up trouble. This is a close synonym but can sometimes imply starting a larger incident.
• Chọc tức (verb): To tease, to provoke (often for annoyance rather than necessarily starting a full quarrel).
• Khiêu khích (verb): To provoke, to challenge (can be physical or verbal, often in a more serious or confrontational context).

Synonyms

• Pick a fight: To deliberately try to start a fight or argument.
• Stir up trouble: To cause problems or discord intentionally.
• Make trouble: To create difficulties or problems for others.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As 'kiếm chuyện' is a Vietnamese verb phrase, it does not have direct English phrasal verb equivalents. The synonyms above serve a similar function.)

Related Idioms

• "Vạch lá tìm sâu": Literally "to part the leaves to look for worms." This idiom means to nitpick, to go out of one's way to find fault, which is closely related to the spirit of 'kiếm chuyện'.
  • Anh đừng có vạch lá tìm sâu nữa! (Stop nitpicking / looking for trouble!)

1. Pick a quarrel, provoke an incident