火 (huǒ) - fire & flame

火Tone 3

huǒ ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 火

慧佳

火 · huǒ

fire;

flame;

blaze;

anger;

fury;

urgent;

pressing;

(in Chinese medicine) internal heat;

a type of military weapon or signal.

fireflameblaze

Usage highlights

firefirepowerfireworksfire alarmvolcanofire god

Synonyms

  • 炎— flame; blaze; inflammation
  • 焰— flame; blaze
  • 烽— beacon fire

Antonyms

  • 水— water (the element that overcomes fire)
  • 冰— ice (extreme cold)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The fire (火) burned brightly.
  • He has a fiery temper (脾气火).
  • This is a fire truck (消防车).
  • Traditional Chinese medicine treats internal heat (上火).

Collocations

  • fire(火)
  • firepower(火力)
  • fireworks(烟火)
  • fire alarm(火警)
  • volcano(火山)
  • fire god(火神)

Idioms

  • Adding fuel to the fire(火上浇油)
  • When the water rises, the boat floats high (水涨船高) — not directly fire-related but conceptually opposite
  • Fighting fire with fire(以火救火)
  • A single spark can start a prairie fire(星星之火，可以燎原)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the Five Elements (Wu Xing) in Chinese philosophy, representing dynamism, passion, and transformation.
  • Associated with the south, summer, the color red, and the mythical Vermilion Bird.
  • Historically crucial for cooking, warmth, and protection, but also feared for its destructive power.

FAQ