zaang1 tin1 gung6 dei6爭天共地争天共地
Jyutpingzaang1 tin1 gung6 dei6
Yalejāang tīn guhng deih
Definition
A huge difference; like night and day, or as different as the sky and the earth.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Emphasize the extreme contrast between two things by using this idiom to highlight that they belong to entirely different categories or levels. It is frequently used when comparing people, quality, or situations that seem incompatible due to their vast differences. Unlike formal idioms, this expression fits naturally into casual conversation when you want to express strong disbelief at how far apart two things are.
Examples
Their personalities are worlds apart, how can they get along?
The service quality of these two shops is like night and day.
Related words
Common phrases
personalities are worlds apart
quality is like night and day
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin idiom 天差地別, which is more common in written contexts. While they share a similar meaning, 爭天共地 is specifically preferred in spoken Cantonese to add emphasis and local flavor to your comparison.
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.
