haap6 lou6 soeng1 fung4狹路相逢狭路相逢

Jyutpinghaap6 lou6 soeng1 fung4

Yalehaahp louh sēung fùhng

Definition

To meet on a narrow road; to meet head-on with an adversary or someone you want to avoid.

literaryto meet on a narrow road where encounter is unavoidable
figurativeto cross paths with an enemy or adversary

writtenpeopleother

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of inevitability and tension, often implying that the encounter is unwelcome or awkward. While it literally describes a physical space, it is almost exclusively used metaphorically to describe meeting an adversary or someone you are actively trying to avoid. It is frequently paired with the phrase 冤家路窄 to emphasize the feeling of bad luck or fate.

Examples

gu2估m4唔dou2到hai2喺ni1呢dou6度haap3狹lou6路soeng1相fung4逢，zan1真hai6係jyun1冤gaa1家lou6路zaak3窄。

I never expected to run into you here, what a small world for enemies.

nei5你dei6哋loeng5兩go3個hai6係mai1咪haap6狹lou6路soeng1相fung4逢，so2所ji5以sin1先wui2會aai3嗌gaau1交？

Did you two end up fighting because you bumped into each other?

Common phrases

haap3狹lou6路soeng1相fung4逢jung5勇ze2者sing1勝

on a narrow road, the brave one wins

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to say they met someone by chance, but it specifically implies a negative or confrontational encounter. Do not use it for a pleasant surprise meeting with a friend.