caa1 tin1 gung6 dei6差天共地
Jyutpingcaa1 tin1 gung6 dei6
Yalechā tīn guhng deih
Definition
As different as day and night; a massive difference between two things.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Emphasize the extreme contrast between two things by using this idiom. It is frequently used when comparing quality, personality, or living standards. Unlike simple comparisons, it carries a strong sense of disbelief or shock regarding the gap between the subjects.
Examples
The two brothers have personalities that are as different as night and day.
Why is the quality of these two restaurants so vastly different?
Related words
Common phrases
the quality is as different as night and day
personalities are as different as night and day
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 差唔多, which means almost the same. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it to describe a small difference, but it is reserved for massive, undeniable gaps.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
