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shuǐ 水 huǒ 火 bù 不 róng 容

水火不容 shuǐ huǒ bù róng

utterly incompatible; at daggers drawn

Literally: water fire not tolerate

Intermediate 🤝 Friendship & family
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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. The Han-dynasty Hanshu already uses water and fire as the image of two things that cannot coexist.

How to use it

Predicate; negative. Often 两人水火不容.

Example sentences

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  1. 这两个部门的经理水火不容，开会总是吵架。
    Zhè liǎng gè bùmén de jīnglǐ shuǐ huǒ bù róng, kāihuì zǒngshì chǎojià.
    The managers of these two departments can't stand each other and always argue in meetings.
    this two (measure) department (particle) manager water fire not tolerate, hold-meeting always quarrel
  2. 他们的观点水火不容，谁也说服不了谁。
    Tāmen de guāndiǎn shuǐ huǒ bù róng, shéi yě shuōfú bu liǎo shéi.
    Their views are utterly incompatible; neither can convince the other.
    they (particle) viewpoint water fire not tolerate, who also persuade not able who

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