火

huǒ

人 + 八

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

huǒ (noun) fire; flame

huǒ (adjective) fiery; hot

huǒ (adjective) urgent

Etymology

Pictograph of fire.

About

火 is a pictograph of flames, its central strokes suggesting a main fire and the outer ones sparks or smaller flames. It means fire, flame, or blaze, and serves as a radical in characters related to heat, burning, and cooking. Over time its meanings extended metaphorically to urgent situations, intense anger, explosive tempers, and thriving popularity, reflecting a shift from the physical element to energetic, volatile states.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢坐火车旅行。

Wǒ xǐhuān zuò huǒchē lǚxíng.

I like traveling by train.

火能取暖和煮饭。

Huǒ néng qǔnuǎn hé zhǔfàn.

Fire can provide warmth and cook food.

森林火灾非常危险。

Sēnlín huǒzāi fēichāng wēixiǎn.

Forest fires are very dangerous.

他今天火气很大。

Tā jīntiān huǒqì hěn dà.

He is very angry today.

这部电影票房火爆。

Zhè bù diànyǐng piàofáng huǒbào.

This movie has a booming box office.

消防员火速赶到现场。

Xiāofángyuán huǒsù gǎndào xiànchǎng.

The firefighters rushed to the scene at high speed.

听到火警，大家急忙逃跑。

Tīng dào huǒjǐng, dàjiā jímáng táopǎo.

Upon hearing the fire alarm, everyone hurried to escape.

尽管火势凶猛，但消防队员依然勇敢地扑救。

Jǐnguǎn huǒshì xiōngměng, dàn xiāofáng duìyuán yīrán yǒnggǎn de pūjiù.

Although the fire was fierce, the firefighters still bravely fought it.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 人

Component: 八

Example Words