fo2 zoi1火災火灾
Jyutpingfo2 zoi1
Yalefó jōi
Definition
Fire, conflagration, or fire disaster.
neutralother
How it's used
Fire safety terminology in Cantonese distinguishes between a small, contained fire and a major disaster. While 火災 refers to a serious, destructive event, the more common term for a general fire or a small blaze is simply 火燭. Using 火災 in casual conversation can sound overly formal or like a news report, whereas 火燭 is the standard way to describe a fire occurring in a building or neighborhood.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
There was a fire at that building last night.
If you encounter a fire, do you know how to escape?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 火災 for minor kitchen accidents or small flames, as it implies a large scale disaster. Use 火燭 for everyday situations involving fires.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
