wo6 hei2 siu1 coeng4禍起蕭牆祸起萧墙
Jyutpingwo6 hei2 siu1 coeng4
Yalewoh héi sīu chèuhng
Definition
An idiom referring to internal strife or trouble arising from within a family or group.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom originates from the Analects of Confucius and carries a formal, literary tone despite being used in modern contexts. It is specifically reserved for describing conflicts or disasters that originate from within one's own organization, family, or group rather than from external enemies. Because it is a four-character idiom, it is often used in news reports or serious discussions to add gravity to the situation.
Examples
This internal company dispute is truly a case of trouble from within.
Their family business ended up like this because of internal strife.
Related words
Common phrases
leads to internal strife
prevent internal trouble
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for any kind of trouble, but it specifically requires the source of the problem to be internal. Using it to describe an external attack or a random accident would be incorrect.
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.
