gwing2 jin4 bat1 tung4迥然不同

Jyutpinggwing2 jin4 bat1 tung4

Yalegwíng yìhn bāt tùhng

形容詞

Definition

Markedly different; poles apart; having a massive difference.

writtendescriptions

How it's used

This is a formal idiom that carries a literary weight, making it sound quite sophisticated in spoken Cantonese. It is typically used to emphasize a sharp, clear contrast between two things or people. Because it is a four-character idiom, it is often reserved for more descriptive or serious contexts rather than casual small talk.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個ge3嘅nam2諗faat3法gwing2迥jin4然bat1不tung4同。

The two of them have markedly different ideas.

le1呢loeng5兩gaan1間pou3舖tau2頭ge3嘅fung1風gaak3格gwing2迥jin4然bat1不tung4同aa4呀。

The styles of these two shops are completely different.

Common phrases

sing3性gaak3格gwing2迥jin4然bat1不tung4同

personalities are markedly different

fung1風gaak3格gwing2迥jin4然bat1不tung4同

styles are markedly different

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this in everyday, casual situations where a simpler phrase like 差好遠 or 唔同曬 would be much more natural. Using it too frequently in informal speech can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook.