熄 xī to extinguish
to extinguish; to put out; to quench
How to remember 熄: 火 fire + 息 breath = to extinguish. Grandma leans over the little fire on each of her ninety candles and takes one huge breath to extinguish them all.
Component breakdown
熄 = 火 fire + 息 breath
- 火 fire
- 息 breath
- 自 self
- 心 heart
Grandma leans over the little fire on each of her ninety candles and takes one huge breath to extinguish them all.
How it is used
- To extinguish / go out (of fire, light) - 熄灭 (xīmiè) to put out/die out, 熄火 (xīhuǒ) an engine stalling or a fire going out, 熄灯 (xīdēng) lights-out.
- Also figurative: 怒火渐渐熄灭 (nùhuǒ jiànjiàn xīmiè) anger gradually dying down.