反目成仇 (fǎn mù chéng chóu) — to fall out and become enemies (used of former friends or close relations)

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning former friends or relatives turn against each other and become enemies. Stronger and more literary than 吵架 — it marks a complete, lasting break in a close relationship.

idiom
to fall out and become enemies (used of former friends or close relations)

Examples

  • ，反目成仇。
    Tā men běn lái shì hǎo péng you, hòu lái yīn wèi lì yì fǎn mù chéng chóu.
    They were originally good friends, but later fell out and became enemies over interests.
  • 反目成仇，。
    Xiōng dì liǎ wèi le zhēng duó cái chǎn fǎn mù chéng chóu, shí zài lìng rén wǎn xī.
    The two brothers fell out and became enemies over property — it's truly regrettable.
  • 反目成仇。
    Hé zuò duō nián de yí duì huǒ bàn yīn wèi yí cì wù huì fǎn mù chéng chóu le.
    A pair of partners who had worked together for many years fell out and became enemies over a misunderstanding.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ仇⁰qiú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仇 has 亻, a person, and 九, which gives the sound.

Open 仇 →

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