Etymology

picking quarrels and provoking trouble

Today it means: A crime and administrative offence known for being vague, mainly concerning breaching the peace by creating a disturbance in a public place. Full definition →

Chinese 尋釁滋事 /寻衅滋事
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The story

  1. Chinese · calque of尋釁滋事 /寻衅滋事
  2. English todaypicking quarrels and provoking trouble

Calque of Chinese 尋釁滋事 /寻衅滋事 (xúnxìn zīshì).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.