火灾

• Pinyin: huǒ zāi
• Hanzi breakdown: 火 = fire; 灾 = disaster/calamity

Meaning

Fire (disaster); conflagration. A destructive fire causing damage.

Specifically refers to destructive fires that cause damage, not controlled fire. Used in news, safety contexts, and insurance. Distinguished from 火 (general fire) by implying disaster and damage.

Examples

1. 这栋老楼因为电线老化引发了一场火灾。 This old building caught fire due to aging electrical wires.
2. 消防员迅速赶到现场扑灭了火灾。 Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire.
3. 为了预防火灾，公司每年都举行消防演习。 To prevent fires, the company holds fire drills every year.

Usage Guide

Context: news, safety, emergency, insurance

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 火灾发生时要保持冷静。(Stay calm when a fire occurs.)
• 这场火灾造成了严重损失。(This fire caused serious damage.)

Don't Say

• 我们生了一个火灾取暖 (火灾 is specifically a disaster — for controlled fire, use 生火 or 点火)

Origin & History

Compound of 火 (fire) + 灾 (disaster), meaning fire disaster.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal