火候 huǒhou heat control
heat control; (figuratively) mastery; (figuratively) crucial moment
怎么记住“火候”: 火 fire (Kangxi radical 86) + 候 waiting for = heat control.
汉字
用法
- Literally the heat/timing in cooking - 掌握火候 (zhǎngwò huǒhou) to control the heat.
- Figurative and very common: the right degree of skill or the crucial moment - 他的功夫还不到火候 (tā de gōngfu hái bú dào huǒhou) his skill isn't fully seasoned yet.
- Note 候 is neutral tone (huǒhou); the metaphorical 'mastery/timing' sense appears constantly in describing craft, negotiation, or ripeness of a moment.