引起 yǐnqǐ — to give rise to, to cause, to trigger
yǐnqǐ (third tone, dipping)yin3qi3
to give rise to, to cause, to trigger
HSK 4· HSK 1–4 (classic)verb
Meanings
to give rise to, to cause, to trigger
To set something off — usually a problem, a reaction, or attention, rather than something a person does on purpose. 引起注意 (to attract attention) and 引起误会 (to cause a misunderstanding) are its two most common company; the cause is the subject, the effect the object.
verb
Character breakdown
Example sentences
- 这件事引起了大家的注意。這件事引起了大家的注意。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) jiàn (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) yǐnqǐle (third tone, dipping) dàjiā (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zhùyì. (fourth tone, falling)···
This matter drew everyone’s attention.
- 他的话引起了误会。他的話引起了誤會。Tā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) huà (fourth tone, falling) yǐnqǐle (third tone, dipping) wùhuì. (fourth tone, falling)···
What he said caused a misunderstanding.
Common mistakes
Not quite大家引起了这件事的注意。
Correct这件事引起了大家的注意。
What causes the reaction is the subject of 引起, and the people affected sit inside the object phrase with 的; swapping them around, as if 大家 were doing the causing, reverses who is doing what.