gon1 gwo1干戈
Jyutpinggon1 gwo1
Yalegōn gwō
Definition
Shield and halberd; weapons of war, used figuratively to mean fighting, hostilities, or war.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
Literary in origin, this term is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 大動干戈. It carries a slightly dramatic or hyperbolic tone when applied to everyday arguments or minor conflicts. Using it suggests that the situation has escalated far beyond what is reasonable or necessary.
Examples
It is really not worth it for both sides to start a fight over such a small amount of money.
Everyone should talk things out properly, there is no need to resort to hostility.
Related words
Common phrases
to wage a war or start a major conflict
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual military warfare in a modern news context, as it sounds too archaic or metaphorical. It is best reserved for describing interpersonal conflicts or unnecessary escalations in daily life.
Grammar color guide
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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).
