mat6 bat1 ho2 fan1密不可分
Jyutpingmat6 bat1 ho2 fan1
Yalemaht bāt hó fān
Definition
Inseparable; so closely related that they cannot be divided.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This is a formal four character idiom that is often used in written Cantonese or more serious spoken contexts. While it describes a close bond, it is most frequently applied to abstract concepts like the link between economy and politics or technology and modern life rather than just human friendships.
Examples
The relationship between the two of them is simply inseparable.
Are technology and our daily lives already inseparable?
Related words
Common phrases
inseparable relationship
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this to describe close friends, but it sounds overly dramatic or literary in casual conversation. For human relationships, it is more natural to use 感情好 or 黐埋一齊.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
