nitpick ⇒ 他的工作无可挑剔。 Tā de gōngzuò wú kě tiāotī. → You can't find fault with his work.

provoke ⇒ 挑动内战 tiǎodòng nèizhàn → provoke a civil war

instigate

challenge ⇒ 挑战体能极限 tiǎozhàn tǐnéng jíxiàn → challenge the limits of one's physical abilities ⇒ 挑战自我 tiǎozhàn zìwǒ → set oneself a challenge ⇒ 面临新挑战 miànlín xīn tiǎozhàn → face a new challenge

be particular ⇒ 挑拣饮食 tiāojiǎn yǐnshí → be particular about one's food

stir ... up ⇒ 他总是挑拨他们之间的关系。 Tā zǒngshì tiǎobō tāmen zhījiān de guānxì. → He's always stirring up trouble between them. ⇒ 挑拨是非 tiǎobō shìfēi → sow discord

provoke ⇒ 武装挑衅 wǔzhuāng tiǎoxìn → armed provocation

select

tease

be a fussy eater

be overcritical

be the mainstay

be petty ⇒ 不要挑三拣四了,哪个都不错的。 Bùyào tiāo sān jiǎn sì le, nǎge dōu bùcuò de. → Don't be so petty, they're all OK.

be picky

one in a hundred ⇒ 这小伙儿真是百里挑一。 Zhè xiǎohuǒr zhēnshi bǎi lǐ tiāo yī. → This lad is really one in a hundred.