jing4 jing2 bat1 lei4形影不離形影不离
Jyutpingjing4 jing2 bat1 lei4
Yaleyìhng yíng bāt lèih
Definition
Inseparable; describing a very close relationship where two people are always together.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly literary or formal tone despite being used in daily speech to describe close friends or couples. It implies a sense of constant companionship that feels almost like a shadow following an object. While it is perfectly acceptable in conversation, it is often used with a touch of emphasis or even mild teasing when observing two people who are constantly together.
Examples
The two of them have been inseparable since they were young.
Why are you two always stuck together like glue?
Related words
Common phrases
inseparable friends
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe physical objects that cannot be separated, but it is strictly reserved for describing the relationship between people. Use it to talk about friends or partners, not for things like keys or documents.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
