lei4 gaan3離間离间
Jyutpinglei4 gaan3
Yalelèih gaan
Definition
To sow dissension among a group to breed mutual suspicion and prevent cooperation, usually to achieve one's own goals.
neutralpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the deliberate act of breaking bonds through manipulation or spreading rumors. It implies a calculated strategy rather than just a simple argument or misunderstanding. The term carries a strong negative connotation of being sneaky or untrustworthy.
Examples
They are very close friends, don't try to sow discord between them.
That person is always sowing discord behind our backs, it's really underhanded.
Related words
Common phrases
a strategy to sow discord
to damage a relationship
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 離散, which refers to people being scattered or separated due to circumstances like migration or war, rather than intentional manipulation.
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).
