上火 shànghuǒ to get angry
to get angry; to suffer from excessive internal heat (TCM)
How to remember 上火: 上 above + 火 fire (Kangxi radical 86) = to get angry.
Characters
How it is used
- TCM concept: 'to suffer internal heat' from spicy/fried food, causing sore throat, mouth ulcers, etc. - 吃辣容易上火 (chī là róngyì shànghuǒ) spicy food easily makes you 'heaty'.
- Colloquially also 'to get irritated/angry'; culturally rooted, no clean English equivalent.
Example sentences
- 快点，不然要赶不上火车了。 Kuàidiǎn, bùrán yào gǎnbúshàng huǒchē le.Be quick, or you will miss the train.
- 再不快点我们就赶不上火车了。 Zài bú kuàidiǎn wǒmen jiù gǎnbúshàng huǒchē le.If we don't hurry, we'll miss our train.