fu6 zi1 jat1 geoi6付之一炬

Jyutpingfu6 zi1 jat1 geoi6

Yalefuh jī yāt geuih

動詞

Definition

To be completely destroyed by fire; to go up in flames.

writtenother

How it's used

This idiom is strictly formal and literary, often appearing in news reports or written accounts of disasters. It carries a heavy, dramatic tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday speech. When used in conversation, it is usually to emphasize the total loss of something significant, like years of hard work or a grand plan.

Examples

coeng4場fo2火hou2好daai6大，so2所jau5有sam1心hyut3血dou1都fu6付zi1之jat1一geoi6炬。

The fire was huge, and all the hard work turned to ashes.

jyu4如gwo2果m4唔siu2小sam1心，nei5你koi3嘅nou5努lik6力zau6就wui2會fu6付zi1之jat1一geoi6炬。

If you are not careful, all your efforts will be reduced to ashes.

Common phrases

sam1心hyut3血fu6付zi1之jat1一geoi6炬

hard work turned to ashes

cyun4全bou6部fu6付zi1之jat1一geoi6炬

everything reduced to ashes

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common verb phrase, but it is a rigid idiom that cannot be modified or broken up. Do not attempt to add particles like 咗 or 緊 inside the phrase, as it would sound unnatural to native speakers.