jyun1 gaa1冤家
Jyutpingjyun1 gaa1
Yaleyūn gā
Definition
An enemy, opponent, or irreconcilable foe; sometimes used affectionately for a lover or spouse.
- enemy; opponent; adversary
- figurativeone's lover, spouse, or destined partner in a teasing or quarrelsome relationship
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Often used in a lighthearted or ironic way to describe people who are constantly bickering or at odds, rather than implying genuine malice. It frequently appears in the phrase 歡喜冤家 to describe a couple who fights constantly but is clearly fond of each other. The term carries a sense of fated conflict or an inescapable dynamic between two people.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
The two of them are always bickering, they are truly a pair of rivals.
Related words
Common phrases
a bickering couple who are actually in love
to become enemies
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a serious criminal enemy or a professional rival, as it sounds too dramatic or personal for those contexts. It is best reserved for interpersonal relationships or romantic tension.
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).
