水火不容
shuǐ huǒ bù róng
irreconcilable; utterly incompatible
Character by character
水shuǐ
water
water
火huǒ
fire
fire
不bù
not
not
容róng
tolerate
tolerate
Example
这两位评论家的观点水火不容，在网上吵了好几年。
The two critics’ views are utterly irreconcilable, and they have been arguing online for years.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Water puts out fire, so the two can never share a space. Said of people, groups or ideas that cannot coexist: 两派水火不容, 与…水火不容. Stronger than 格格不入, which is only “out of place”; the opposite of 水乳交融 (lesson 1-10).
Learn this in Lesson 126 · HSK 7–9: 北京握手 (International news: the handshake in Beijing)
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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