paang5 daa2 jyun1 joeng1棒打鴛鴦棒打鸳鸯
Jyutpingpaang5 daa2 jyun1 joeng1
Yalepáahng dá yūn yēung
Definition
To break up a couple; to separate lovers or spouses.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Originating from classical literature, this idiom carries a slightly dramatic or literary weight when used in modern speech. It is frequently employed to criticize someone who interferes in a romantic relationship, often implying that the interference is unwanted or cruel. The imagery of a stick hitting a pair of mandarin ducks evokes a sense of unnecessary violence against a harmonious bond.
Examples
They truly love each other, please don't break them up.
Why do you always want to break up couples and tear people apart?
Related words
Common phrases
don't break up the couple
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of animal cruelty, but it is exclusively used in the context of human relationships. Do not use it to describe breaking up a fight or separating two people who are not in a romantic relationship.
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.
