Chinese word

点火

Pronunciation

Pinyindiǎn huǒ

Meaning

  • verblight

Example

请先帮我把炉子点火。qǐng xiān bāng wǒ bǎ lú zi dián huǒ

Please help me light the stove first.

Illustration for 点火 (light)

More examples

寒冷天气里，汽车发动机很难点火。hán lěng tiān qì lǐ qì chē fā dòng jī hěn nán dián huǒ

In cold weather, a car is hard to start.

Core concept

Starts a flame at a fuel source and makes the fuel begin to burn.

Common phrases

  • 给汽车点火gěi qì chē dián huǒ

    start a car

  • 用火柴点火yòng huǒ chái dián huǒ

    light using a match

  • 给炉子点火gěi lú zi dián huǒ

    light a stove

Similar words

点燃diǎn rán: To make an object start burning by putting a flame to it.
着火zháo huǒ: To catch fire when a spark, flame, or strong heat starts the burning.
生火shēng huǒ: To build a fire by setting wood, charcoal, or other fuel alight.

Definition in Chinese

启动火焰，使可燃物进入燃烧状态的动作或过程。qǐ dòng huǒ yàn shǐ kě rán wù jìn rù rán shāo zhuàng tài de dòng zuò huò guò chéng

Word origin

点 (diǎn, "ignite") + 火 (huǒ, "fire") combines the act of setting something alight with the fire itself, forming a direct word for starting combustion.

Usage tips

  • For native English speakers, light can mean either creating a flame or making a room bright, but this word applies only to starting combustion, not switching on a lamp.

Other meanings

  • catch fireverb

Opposites

  • 熄灭xī miègo outverb
  • 扑灭pū mièput outverb

Related words

  • 点火装置dián huǒ zhuāng zhìignition unitnoun
  • 点火系统dián huǒ xì tǒngignition systemnoun

Word lists with this word