火锅

• Pinyin: huǒ guō
• Hanzi breakdown: 火 = pictograph of flames (fire); 锅 = 钅+ 呙 (metal radical + phonetic Guo, pot or pan made of metal)

Meaning

Hot pot; a popular Chinese cooking and dining style in which a simmering pot of broth is placed at the center of the table and diners cook various raw ingredients in it together.

火锅 is one of China's most beloved dining traditions, with regional varieties including 四川火锅 (Sichuan hot pot, known for its numbing-spicy 麻辣 broth), 北京涮羊肉 (Beijing mutton hot pot), and 广东打边炉 (Cantonese hot pot). 火锅 is deeply social — typically enjoyed as a group meal and associated with warmth and togetherness. The 鸳鸯锅 (twin-flavored pot) allows simultaneous spicy and mild broths.

Examples

1. 一到冬天，朋友们便自发地约好一起去吃火锅，热气腾腾的锅底冒着香气，既驱散了寒意，也拉近了彼此的距离。 As soon as winter arrives, friends naturally make plans to go eat hot pot together; the steaming, fragrant broth not only chases away the cold but also brings everyone closer.
2. 成都的火锅以麻辣著称，锅底翻滚着红艳艳的辣油，食材的鲜香与花椒的麻感在口腔中相互交织，令人欲罢不能。 Chengdu hot pot is famous for its numbing heat. The broth roils with bright red chili oil, and the fresh flavors of the ingredients mingle with the tingle of Sichuan peppercorns, making it impossible to stop eating.
3. 火锅文化已随着中国移民的足迹传播到世界各地，如今在许多国际大城市都能找到风格正宗的中式火锅餐厅。 Hot pot culture has spread around the world with Chinese communities, and today you can find truly authentic Chinese hot pot restaurants in many major international cities.

Usage Guide

Context: food, dining, culture, social occasions

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 每逢节假日，家人围坐在一起吃火锅已经成为许多中国家庭的固定传统，热腾腾的锅底象征着家庭的温暖与团聚，也承载着世代相传的饮食记忆。(During every holiday, gathering around the table to eat hot pot has become a fixed tradition for many Chinese families; the steaming pot of broth symbolises the warmth and reunion of family and carries the culinary memories passed down through generations.)
• 这家火锅店把川式麻辣锅底和番茄清汤做成鸳鸯锅，兼顾嗜辣与清淡口味，口碑很好。(This hot pot restaurant combines Sichuan spicy broth with tomato clear soup into a yin-yang hot pot, satisfying both spicy and mild tastes and earning a very good reputation.)

Don't Say

• 火锅 for general cooking in a pot over fire — use 炖 or 煮 for regular stewing or boiling; 火锅 specifically refers to the communal hot pot dining style, not ordinary pot cooking

Origin & History

火 (fire) + 锅 (pot/wok) — literally 'fire pot'; describes a pot heated over a flame at the dining table; the concept of communal hot pot cooking has existed in China for over a thousand years

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal