Chinese word

火药

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuǒ yào

Meaning

  • noungunpowder

Example

别把 火药 放在潮湿的地方。bié bǎ huǒ yào fàng zài cháo shī de dì fāng

Don't put gunpowder in a damp place.

Illustration for 火药 (gunpowder)

More examples

点燃火药会引起严重的爆炸。diǎn rán huǒ yào huì yín qǐ yán zhòng de bào zhà

Igniting gunpowder can cause a serious explosion.

Core concept

A dry reactive powder that releases intense heat and expanding gas when fire sets it off.

Common phrases

  • 点燃火药diǎn rán huǒ yào

    ignite gunpowder

  • 储存火药chǔ cún huǒ yào

    store gunpowder

  • 黑火药hēi huǒ yào

    black powder

Similar words

炸药zhà yào: An explosive material designed for construction projects or military use.
黑火药hēi huǒ yào: Historically used black gunpowder in powder form that burns readily.
爆炸物bào zhà wù: A broad term for an explosive substance or device.
火药味huǒ yào wèi: A hostile, uneasy atmosphere in which a quarrel or conflict seems likely.

Definition in Chinese

一种能在火源作用下迅速燃烧并释放大量气体和热量的化学混合物，传统上用于火器、爆竹和烟花等。yì zhǒng néng zài huǒ yuán zuò yòng xià xùn sù rán shāo bìng shì fàng dà liàng qì tǐ hé rè liàng de huà xué hùn hé wù chuán tǒng shàng yòng yú huǒ qì bào zhú hé yān huā děng

Word origin

火 (huǒ, "fire") + 药 (yào, "medicine") frames gunpowder as a fire-producing preparation, a name that reflects its traditional use.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 火药味 (huǒyàowèi, "a tense or hostile tone") describes conflict in a discussion, so the word also appears in a figurative description of atmosphere.

Related words

  • 火药厂huǒ yào chǎnggunpowder factorynoun
  • 火药库huǒ yào kùgunpowder magazinenoun
  • 黑火药hēi huǒ yàoblack powdernoun

Word lists with this word