hung4 ngaan4 wo6 seoi2紅顏禍水红颜祸水

Jyutpinghung4 ngaan4 wo6 seoi2

Yalehùhng ngàahn woh séui

名詞

Definition

A femme fatale; a beautiful woman who is deemed to bring ruin or disaster.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a heavy historical and misogynistic weight, often used in period dramas or when discussing traditional views on history. It specifically blames a woman for the downfall of a powerful man or an entire dynasty. Using it today is almost always seen as offensive or outdated, reflecting a sexist tendency to scapegoat women for men's failures.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日waa6話jan4人hung4紅ngaan4顏wo6禍seoi2水，zan1真hai6係hou2好m4唔zyun1尊zung6重neoi5女sing3性。

He always calls women a femme fatale, it is really disrespectful.

gu2古doi6代di1啲jan4人seng4成jat6日zoeng1將mong4亡gwok3國zaak3責jam6任teoi1推bei3畀hung4紅ngaan4顏wo6禍seoi2水，hou2好m4唔gung1公ping4平。

People in ancient times often blamed the fall of a country on a femme fatale, which is very unfair.

Common phrases

bei6被si6視wai4為hung4紅ngaan4顏wo6禍seoi2水

to be viewed as a femme fatale

Common mistake

Do not use this term to describe a woman who is simply attractive or fashionable. It specifically implies that her beauty is the direct cause of disaster or ruin, making it a highly charged and negative label.