I am watching a Chinese TV show and came across these lines :
这小文人呢，谁的刺儿都挑。

What does it mean?

Question

I am watching a Chinese TV show and came across these lines :
这小文人呢，谁的刺儿都挑。

What does it mean?

Answer

Chinese version: 这个小文人呢，谁的刺儿都挑！

English version:   This minor/petty literati is always daring to find a fault with anyone.

解释:
在这句汉语中， 主语用了带有习语语气的固定名词结构“ 这个(这些)/那个(那些)…呢，表示说话者赞扬或厌恶或贬低语气，且这种主语后面用标点符号逗号，然后 接: 宾语 + “都 ” + 谓语(动词)。 如:
这个小文人呢(主语)，谁的刺儿(宾语)都(强调语气助词) 挑 (动词)。=  这个小文人敢于挑任何人的毛病。

注意: 挑某人的刺(口语) = 挑某人的毛病(意义解释)。例如： 老张挑小李的刺了 = 小李的刺老张挑了(汉语中，宾语可以放在谓语后面也可以放在句首)；
谁的刺我都敢挑= 任何人的刺我都敢跳= 我敢于挑任何人的刺。
（汉语中可以用疑问代词"谁"代替"任何人"）
如: 谁斜眼看我，谁就是我的敌人。
(Whoever looks at me sideways is my enemy.)

(我把上面的汉语翻译成英语:)

Explanation:

In this Chinese sentence, the subject uses a fixed noun structure with an idiomatic tone, "this (these)/that (those)... ", which expresses the speaker's tone of praise, disgust or belittlement towards the subject.
After this kind of subject, a comma is used, and then: object + "都" + predicate (verb). For example:
This petty literati (subject), anyone's flaws (object) 都 (emphatic particle) + pick out  (verb). = This petty literati dares to pick out anyone's faults.
Note: "Pick on someone" (colloquial) = "Find fault with someone" (meaning explanation). For example:
Lao Zhang picked on Xiao Li = Xiao Li's faults were picked on by Lao Zhang. (In Chinese, the object can be placed after the predicate or at the beginning of the sentence.);
I dare to pick on anyone's faults = I dare to pick on the faults of anyone = I dare to find fault with anyone.
(In Chinese, the interrogative pronoun "who" can be used instead of "anyone".)
For example,  如: 谁斜眼看我，谁就是我的敌人。
(Whoever looks at me sideways is my enemy.)

Answer

Thank you! It's a bit like 挑毛病，isn't it?

Answer

小文人，probably be someone z name in that tv series, 谁的刺都挑，挑刺 means picky. In this sentence, it means the person 小文人 never feels satisfied with others and always find even tiny mistakes others make

Answers · 3

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!