faan2 muk6 sing4 sau4反目成仇
Jyutpingfaan2 muk6 sing4 sau4
Yalefáan muhk sìhng sàuh
Definition
To fall out with someone and become enemies.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy, dramatic weight, implying a significant and often permanent breakdown in a relationship. It is rarely used for minor disagreements, which are better described as 鬧交 or 唔啱傾. Use it only when the shift from friendship to hostility is profound and public.
Examples
Why did those two good friends fall out and become enemies?
It is really not worth falling out over a small amount of money.
Related words
Common phrases
to fall out over trivial matters
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for any argument, but it specifically describes the complete severance of a bond. Avoid using it for temporary disputes or simple misunderstandings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
