The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

自讨苦吃

zì tǎo kǔ chīdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) to ask for trouble / to make a rod for one's own back
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-a7e578890289e3c8. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

自討苦吃 自讨苦吃 [zi4 tao3 ku3 chi1] /(idiom) to ask for trouble; to make a rod for one's own back/

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: 自討苦吃

  • 自
    zì

    (bound form) self / oneself / from / since / naturally / as a matter of course

  • 讨
    tǎo

    to invite / to provoke / to demand or ask for / to send armed forces to suppress / to denounce or condemn / to marry (a woman) / to discuss or study

  • 苦
    kǔ

    bitter / hardship / pain / to suffer / to bring suffering to / painstakingly

  • 吃
    chī

    to eat / to consume / to eat at (a cafeteria etc) / to eradicate / to destroy / to absorb / to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.