水火 (shuǐ huǒ) — water and fire; basic necessities of life; (fig…

Definition

Literally 'water and fire', this noun is used almost entirely figuratively: for irreconcilable opposites (互不相容, like oil and water) or for extreme suffering and hardship. The bare meaning 'water and fire' rarely appears alone.

noun

water and firebasic necessities of life(figurative) irreconcilable opposites(figurative) great disasterextreme suffering

Examples

水火，。
Rén lí bù kāi shuǐ huǒ, jiù xiàng lí bù kāi kōng qì yí yàng.
People cannot do without water and fire, just as they cannot do without air.
，水火。
Tā men guān diǎn bù tóng, jiù xiàng shuǐ huǒ yí yàng duì lì.
Their views differ, opposing each other like fire and water.
，水火。
Zài zhàn huǒ zhōng, bǎi xìng jīng lì le shuǐ huǒ bān de tòng kǔ.
In the war, the people experienced suffering akin to fire and water.