heoi1 fo2虛火虚火

Jyutpingheoi1 fo2

Yalehēui fó

名詞

Definition

Deficiency heat in Chinese medicine, or a short-lived trend or fad with no lasting substance.

technicaldeficiency heat; excess of yang caused by a deficiency of yin in Chinese medicine
figurativea temporary trend, fad, or hype that lacks substance and cannot last

colloquialhealthdescriptions

How it's used

Beyond its medical meaning, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe trends or popularity that lack substance. It implies that something is experiencing a temporary surge of attention without a solid foundation to maintain it. When used in a health context, it specifically refers to a state where the body feels hot and restless due to internal deficiency rather than an external infection.

Examples

nei5你zeoi3最gan6近hai6係mai6咪heoi1虛fo2火soeng6上sing1升aa4呀？

Have you been feeling irritable and overheated lately?

ni1呢go3個jit6熱ciu4潮zi2只hai6係heoi1虛fo2火，hou2好faai3快zau6就mou5冇㗎gaa2喇。

This trend is just a flash in the pan, it will fade away very quickly.

Common phrases

heoi1虛fo2火soeng6上sing1升

to have a flare-up of internal heat

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with literal fever or inflammation caused by external pathogens. It describes a state of internal imbalance, so taking cooling medicine meant for real heat can sometimes worsen the underlying deficiency.