sing1 fo2星火
Jyutpingsing1 fo2
Yalesīng fó
Definition
A small spark, a weak fire, or a meteor; can also describe a highly urgent situation.
- spark; weak fire
- meteor
- extremely urgent
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
Literally referring to a small spark or dying ember, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe situations that are extremely urgent or critical. It carries a sense of impending disaster or a situation that could quickly spiral out of control if not addressed immediately. You will often encounter it in the idiom 星火燎原, which describes how a tiny spark can eventually ignite a massive, uncontrollable fire.
Examples
This matter is very urgent, it is like a spark starting a wildfire.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe literal campfires or cooking flames, as it is almost exclusively reserved for metaphorical urgency or the very last remnants of a fire.
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.
