反目成仇
fǎn mù chéng chóu
to fall out and become enemies
Character by character
反fǎn
turn
turn
目mù
eyes
eyes
成chéng
become
become
仇chóu
enemies
enemies
Example
两个老朋友为了一笔生意反目成仇，从此再也不来往。
The two old friends fell out over a business deal and became enemies, and never had anything to do with each other again.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
反目, literally to turn one’s eyes, means to glare at each other in anger; it was first said of husbands and wives (夫妻反目, in the Book of Changes, 《易·小畜》). Now used of friends, partners and relatives, usually with the cause in front: 为了遗产反目成仇, 因为一点小事反目成仇.
Learn this in Lesson 195 · HSK 7–9: 遗嘱与继承 (Wills and inheritance: a legal advice column)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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