熄火

• Pinyin: xī huǒ
• Hanzi breakdown: 熄 = 火 + 息 (fire + cease/breath — to extinguish); 火 = fire radical (four strokes representing flames)

Meaning

To extinguish a fire; to turn off an engine; (of an engine) to stall. Used for fires going out, engines being switched off, or vehicles stalling.

Versatile verb phrase applicable to fire safety, vehicles, and cooking. In figurative use, it can mean a project or initiative losing momentum. 熄 (extinguish) + 火 (fire).

Examples

1. 消防队员在确认火势完全熄灭之前，始终守候在现场，防止死灰复燃。 The firefighters stayed on site until they were sure the blaze was completely out, to prevent it from flaring up again.
2. 进入地下停车场前，司机通常会将发动机熄火，以减少尾气污染。 Before entering the underground parking garage, drivers usually turn off the engine to reduce exhaust pollution.
3. 锅里的汤煮好后要及时熄火，避免过度沸腾导致汤汁变少。 Once the soup in the pot is done, turn off the heat promptly to avoid boiling it down too much.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, vehicles, cooking, fire safety, engineering

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 因初期处置失当，火势在熄火前已烧了十六个小时，造成危险化学品泄漏，救援难度很高。(Because the early response was mishandled, the fire had burned for sixteen hours before it was extinguished, causing hazardous chemical leaks and making rescue operations very difficult.)
• 坡道起步时若操作不当导致发动机熄火，驾驶员要先踩刹车并拉手刹，再冷静重启。(If the engine stalls during a hill start because of improper operation, the driver should first press the brake and apply the handbrake, then calmly restart the engine.)

Don't Say

• 熄火 to mean 'to put out' in the abstract sense of resolving a conflict or calming a situation — use 平息 or 化解 for interpersonal or social conflicts; 熄火 is physical and literal, referring to actual flames or mechanical engines

Origin & History

熄 = 火 + 息 (fire + breath/cease — the fire ceases, extinguished) + 火 (fire) — to cause fire to cease; 息 combines 自 (nose/self) and 心 (heart) to mean breath, rest, cease

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal