wui4 fo2回火
Jyutpingwui4 fo2
Yalewùih fó
Definition
Tempering; a heat treatment process for steel to increase its toughness.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Technical terminology like this is almost exclusively used in industrial or engineering contexts in Hong Kong. While it functions as a noun, it is frequently used as a verb phrase in shop talk, where workers might simply say 回咗火 to describe the completed process. It is distinct from quenching, which is usually referred to as 淬火.
Examples
After this steel piece undergoes tempering, its toughness is much better.
Do you know how tempering makes metal less brittle?
Related words
Common mistake
Be careful not to confuse this with the term for backfiring in engines or gas burners, which is also sometimes referred to as 回火 in certain technical contexts. Context is essential to distinguish between the metallurgical process and a combustion malfunction.
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.
