gai1 tung4 aap3 gong2雞同鴨講鸡同鸭讲

Jyutpinggai1 tung4 aap3 gong2

Yalegāi tùhng aap góng

動詞

Definition

Unable to communicate with each other, usually due to a language barrier or a large gap in knowledge.

colloquialcommunicationpeople

How it's used

This idiom captures the frustration of a conversation where neither party understands the other's logic or language. It is frequently used to describe situations involving technical jargon or generational gaps rather than just literal foreign languages. Using it implies that the effort to communicate is futile because the parties are operating on completely different wavelengths.

Examples

ngo5我tung4同keoi5佢gong2講je5嘢hou2好ci5似gai1雞tung4同aap3鴨gong2講gam3咁。

Talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.

nei5你dei6哋loeng5兩go3個hai6係mai6咪gai1雞tung4同aap3鴨gong2講aa4呀？

Are you two failing to understand each other?

Common phrases

zan1真hai6係gai1雞tung4同aap3鴨gong2講

truly unable to communicate

jyun4完cyun4全gai1雞tung4同aap3鴨gong2講

completely failing to understand each other

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a simple disagreement where both sides understand each other but hold different opinions. It strictly refers to a breakdown in comprehension where the message is not getting through at all.