爆竹

• Pinyin: bào zhú
• Hanzi breakdown: 爆 = 火 (fire) + 暴 (phonetic); 竹 = bamboo pictograph

Meaning

Firecracker. Small explosive devices set off during celebrations.

Traditional Chinese firecrackers made of bamboo or paper tubes filled with gunpowder. Central to Chinese New Year celebrations, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Many Chinese cities now ban or restrict their use due to safety and pollution concerns.

Examples

1. 过年的时候，噼里啪啦的爆竹声从早响到晚。 During the New Year, the crackling of firecrackers goes from morning till night.
2. 现在很多城市禁止燃放爆竹，年味儿淡了不少。 Many cities now ban firecrackers, and the festive atmosphere has diminished.
3. 小孩子玩爆竹要格外小心，每年都有被炸伤的。 Children playing with firecrackers need to be extra careful — every year someone gets injured.

Usage Guide

Context: festivals, celebrations, traditions

Tone: festive

Do Say

• 放爆竹庆祝新年。(Set off firecrackers to celebrate the New Year.)
• 爆竹声声辞旧岁。(Firecracker sounds bid farewell to the old year.)

Don't Say

• 在禁放区说'放爆竹吧' (Don't suggest setting off firecrackers in no-burn zones — it's illegal in many cities)

Origin & History

爆 (to explode) + 竹 (bamboo). Originally bamboo tubes that exploded when heated.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal