fung1 jin1 sei3 hei2烽煙四起烽烟四起

Jyutpingfung1 jin1 sei3 hei2

Yalefūng yīn sei héi

語句

Definition

To have war or battles breaking out everywhere.

writtenother

How it's used

This idiom is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe a state of widespread warfare or intense social unrest. While it can be used metaphorically to describe a chaotic situation or a heated argument, it sounds quite dramatic and heavy in everyday speech. It is rarely used in casual conversation unless one is being intentionally hyperbolic or discussing historical events.

Examples

go2嗰zan6陣si4時zin3戰lyun6亂，zau1周wai4圍dou1都fung1烽jin1煙sei3四hei2起。

During that period of war, battles were breaking out everywhere.

dim2點gaai2解go2嗰go3個gwok3國gaa1家wui2會gaau2搞dou3到fung1烽jin1煙sei3四hei2起㗎？

Why has that country ended up in such a state of widespread conflict?

Common phrases

zin3戰lyun6亂fung1烽jin1煙sei3四hei2起

war and chaos breaking out everywhere

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of smoke from a fire, but it is strictly a metaphor for war or conflict. Using it to describe a kitchen full of smoke from burnt food would be incorrect and confusing to native speakers.