sang1 fo2生火
Jyutpingsang1 fo2
Yalesāng fó
Definition
To light, start, or make a fire.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Primarily used in the context of camping, outdoor survival, or traditional cooking methods. It describes the active process of getting a fire going from scratch, rather than just lighting a stove or a candle.
Examples
We have to start a fire ourselves when we go camping.
Do you know how to start a fire outdoors?
Related words
Common phrases
to start a fire for cooking
to start a fire for warmth
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term for getting angry, which is also written as 生火 in some contexts but is not used that way in Cantonese. In Cantonese, use 發火 or 嬲 to express anger.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
