水すい火か氷ひょう炭たん

Meanings

1

noun

complete incompatibility; like water and oil

A literary yojijukugo describing two people or things that are fundamentally incompatible, like water and fire or ice and hot coals. Rare in everyday speech; more common in written or formal contexts.

あの二人ふたりは水すい火か氷ひょう炭たんの間あいだ柄がらだ。
Those two are as incompatible as fire and water.

charcoal, coal

Similar words

水みずと油あぶら
A common, everyday expression for incompatibility, literally 'water and oil'. 水火氷炭 is a much rarer, literary equivalent.
犬けん猿えんの仲なか
Another common idiom for a relationship of mutual hostility, like cats and dogs. 水火氷炭 emphasizes fundamental difference rather than active fighting.

Etymology

A yojijukugo composed of four characters: 水 (water), 火 (fire), 氷 (ice), and 炭 (charcoal). The combination of opposing elements symbolizes irreconcilable differences. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a classical Chinese pattern of pairing opposites.