luk6 gwok3 daai6 fung1 soeng1六國大封相六国大封相
Definition
A classic Cantonese opera used as an analogy for a grand scene, or to describe a chaotic, violent dispute.
- A traditional Cantonese opera about the Warring States period, symbolizing a grand scene
- figurativeA chaotic, extremely violent, or messy situation; a huge row
How it's used
Originally referring to a grand, multi-character Cantonese opera, this phrase has evolved into a common idiom for any situation involving intense arguments, physical fighting, or general disorder. It carries a strong connotation of public spectacle, implying that the chaos is loud, messy, and hard to ignore. It is frequently used to describe family disputes or public altercations where everyone is shouting at once.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal reference to opera or history, but it is almost exclusively used as a metaphor for a chaotic scene. Do not use it to describe a simple disagreement or a quiet mess; it requires a sense of high-volume, multi-party conflict to be used appropriately.
Grammar color guide
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).
