# 无理取闹

wú lǐ qǔ nào

Make trouble without reasonable grounds

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Create a disturbance without reason

**Traditional Chinese:** 無理取鬧

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize disruptive and unreasonable demands.

Do not dismiss legitimate complaints this way.

## Understanding the expression

The disturbance lacks a reasonable basis, according to the speaker. The expression may describe someone demanding an impossible benefit or continuing a quarrel after the facts are clear. It is dismissive and can silence a real grievance if used carelessly. A fair description distinguishes disruptive behavior from the underlying concern. Someone may have a valid complaint even while expressing it poorly; addressing that concern is different from accepting every unreasonable demand.

## Examples

他坚持退还吃完的饭钱，简直无理取闹。

### Traditional Chinese

他堅持退還吃完的飯錢，簡直無理取鬧。

tā jiān chí tuì huán chī wán de fàn qián ， jiǎn zhí wú lǐ qǔ nào 。

Demanding a refund after finishing the meal is unreasonable troublemaking.

她是在投诉，不是无理取闹。

### Traditional Chinese

她是在投訴，不是無理取鬧。

tā shì zài tóu sù ， bú shì wú lǐ qǔ nào 。

She is making a complaint, not causing trouble without reason.

别无理取闹，规则已经说明了。

### Traditional Chinese

別無理取鬧，規則已經說明了。

bié wú lǐ qǔ nào ， guī zé yǐ jīng shuō míng le 。

Stop making unreasonable demands; the rules have been explained.

顾客无理取闹，要求店员赔十倍。

### Traditional Chinese

顧客無理取鬧，要求店員賠十倍。

gù kè wú lǐ qǔ nào ， yāo qiú diàn yuán péi shí bèi 。

The customer unreasonably demanded that the assistant pay ten times the amount.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%84%A1%E7%90%86%E5%8F%96%E9%AC%A7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=943&webMd=1&la=0)

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