从 中 作 梗

cóng zhōng zuò gěngdictionary entry

(idiom) to deliberately create obstacles / to obstruct from behind the scenes / to throw a wrench in the works

Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-11e396654f1eb47f. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

從中作梗 从中作梗 [cong2 zhong1 zuo4 geng3] /(idiom) to deliberately create obstacles; to obstruct from behind the scenes; to throw a wrench in the works/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 從中作梗

从
cóng
from / through / via / (bound form) to follow / (bound form) to obey / (bound form) to engage in (an activity) / (used before a negative) ever / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) retainer / attendant / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) assistant / auxiliary / subordinate / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor
Cóng
surname Cong
中
zhōng
within / among / in / middle / center / while (doing sth) / during / (dialect) OK / all right
zhòng
to hit (a target) / to be struck by (a bullet, illness etc) / to win (a prize or lottery)
Zhōng
(bound form) China / Chinese / surname Zhong
作
zuō
(bound form) worker / (bound form) workshop / (slang) troublesome / high-maintenance (person)
zuò
to do / to engage in / to write / to compose / to pretend / to feign / to regard as / to consider to be / to be / to act the part of / to feel (itchy, nauseous etc) / writings / works
梗
gěng
branch / stem / stalk / CL:根[gēn] / to block / to hinder / (neologism that evolved from 哏[gén], initially in Taiwan, during the first decade of the 21st century) memorable creative idea (joke, catchphrase, meme, neologism, witty remark etc) / prominent feature of a creative work (punchline of a joke, trope in a drama, special ingredient in a dish, riff in a pop song etc)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.