si6 si6 fei1 fei1是是非非
Jyutpingsi6 si6 fei1 fei1
Yalesih sih fēi fēi
Definition
Right and wrong; truths and lies; conflicts or disagreements.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Often used to describe office politics or complicated social circles where rumors and conflicts are constant. It carries a negative connotation of unnecessary trouble caused by people talking behind each other's backs. While it literally translates to right and wrong, it is rarely used in a philosophical or legal sense.
Examples
The gossip and drama around here are really annoying.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean a simple disagreement or a factual debate. It specifically refers to the messy, often petty, social friction caused by gossip and interpersonal conflict.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
