se4 gin3 lau4 wong4蛇見硫磺蛇见硫磺
Jyutpingse4 gin3 lau4 wong4
Yalesèh gin làuh wòhng
Definition
Clashing with each other; an extreme incompatibility where one party is completely subdued by the other.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom draws on the folk belief that snakes are terrified of sulfur and will flee immediately upon encountering it. It describes a relationship where two people have an intense, visceral mutual dislike that makes it impossible for them to be in the same room. Unlike general disagreement, it implies an instinctive, almost chemical repulsion.
Examples
Their personalities are like oil and water.
Why do you two always clash the moment you meet?
Related words
Common phrases
clash instantly upon meeting
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple arguments or professional disagreements. It is reserved for deep, personal incompatibility where the mere presence of the other person causes immediate tension or avoidance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
