seoi2 kau1 jau4水溝油水沟油

Jyutpingseoi2 kau1 jau4

Yaleséui kāu yàuh

Definition

Like oil and water; incompatible people who cannot get along with each other.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Describes a fundamental incompatibility between people, similar to the English idiom oil and water. It implies that no matter how hard you try to force a connection, the two parties will naturally separate or clash. It is almost exclusively used to describe interpersonal relationships rather than abstract concepts.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個sing3性gaak3格seoi2水kau1溝jau4油，dim2點joeng2樣zou6做pang4朋jau5友aa4呀？

Their personalities are like oil and water, how can they be friends?

ngo5我tung4同keoi5佢zan1真hai6係seoi2水kau1溝jau4油，jyun4完cyun4全king1傾m4唔maai4埋laan1欄。

He and I really don't mix, we can't get along at all.

Common phrases

sing3性gaak3格seoi2水kau1溝jau4油

personalities that do not mix

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe things that are simply different or diverse, as it specifically carries the connotation of active repulsion or inability to blend. It is not used for inanimate objects like mixing ingredients in a recipe.