势不两立 (shì bù liǎng lì) — irreconcilable; incompatible; mutually exclusive

Definition

A chengyu meaning two sides cannot coexist — their conflict is absolute and mutual. Stronger than 不和, it implies total opposition with no possibility of compromise.

idiom
irreconcilableincompatiblemutually exclusive

Examples

  • 势不两立，。
    Tā men liǎ zhī jiān shì bù liǎng lì, gēn běn wú fǎ hé zuò.
    The two of them are irreconcilable and simply cannot cooperate.
  • ，势不两立。
    Zhè liǎng gè gōng sī yīn wèi jìng zhēng jī liè, yǐ jīng shì bù liǎng lì le.
    These two companies, due to fierce competition, have become irreconcilable.
  • ，势不两立，。
    Zài xuǎn jǔ zhōng, liǎng wèi hòu xuǎn rén shì bù liǎng lì, gè zì zhēng qǔ zhī chí.
    In the election, the two candidates are incompatible, each seeking support.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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