tiu1 hei2 baa2 fo2挑起把火
Jyutpingtiu1 hei2 baa2 fo2
Yaletīu héi bá fó
Definition
To anger someone; to make someone angry.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This idiom captures the specific sensation of someone intentionally or carelessly igniting a person's temper. It is more vivid and aggressive than simply saying 激嬲, as it implies a deliberate provocation that causes an emotional explosion. Use it when describing someone who knows exactly how to push another person's buttons.
Examples
Your words are so unpleasant, are you trying to make me angry?
He always makes people angry, causing everyone to be very unhappy.
Related words
Common phrases
to provoke someone's anger
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of starting a fire, as it is strictly used for emotional provocation. Ensure you include the particle 把 before 火, as omitting it sounds unnatural and grammatically incomplete to native speakers.
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.
