sam1 fo2心火
Jyutpingsam1 fo2
Yalesām fó
Definition
Internal heat or fire in Chinese medicine, which manifests as mental uneasiness, anxiety, or mouth ulcers.
colloquialhealthemotion
How it's used
Refers to a concept in traditional Chinese medicine where excessive internal heat manifests as irritability, mouth ulcers, or insomnia. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone who is visibly stressed, impatient, or prone to sudden outbursts of anger. People often suggest drinking cooling herbal tea or avoiding fried foods to alleviate this state.
Examples
Have you been having a lot of internal heat lately? You're losing your temper all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal heart disease or cardiac issues. It describes a state of emotional and physical imbalance rather than a medical diagnosis of the heart organ itself.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
