点火 diǎnhuǒ to ignite
to ignite; to light a fire; to agitate; to start an engine; ignition; figuratively to stir up trouble
How to remember 点火: 点 point + 火 fire (Kangxi radical 86) = to ignite.
Characters
How it is used
- 'To light a fire, ignite; to start (an engine)' - 点火启动 (diǎnhuǒ qǐdòng) to ignite and start up.
- Figurative: 煽风点火 (shānfēng diǎnhuǒ) to fan the flames, stir up trouble.
- The 'incite/provoke' figurative sense is common.
Example sentences
- 我们没点火。 Wǒmen méi diǎnhuǒ.We didn't start the fire.
- 一点火花让火药爆炸。 Yìdiǎn huǒhuā ràng huǒyào bàozhà.A spark caused the gunpowder to explode.
- 汤姆用尽了火柴，不能点火了。 Tāngmǔ yòngjǐn le huǒchái, bùnéng diǎnhuǒ le.Tom ran out of matches so he couldn't light the fire.