fo2 joek6 mei6火藥味火药味
Jyutpingfo2 joek6 mei6
Yalefó yeuhk meih
Definition
An atmosphere of intense tension, hostility, or mutual animosity.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Use this to describe a situation where an argument is about to break out or where people are clearly hostile toward each other. It functions similarly to describing a room as having a heavy or thick atmosphere. It is almost exclusively used to describe interpersonal dynamics rather than literal chemical smells.
Examples
The tension was very high when the two of them were in the meeting.
Don't you feel like the atmosphere at home is filled with tension?
Related words
Common phrases
very tense atmosphere
filled with tension
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical smells, as it is strictly metaphorical. It is also not used to describe physical objects, only the intangible atmosphere between people.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
