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熄火 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
熄火xīhuǒ(of fire, lamp etc) to go outHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #13785, Very Hard
熄火xīhuǒto put out (fire)HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #13785, Very Hard
熄火xīhuǒ(fig.) to die downHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #13785, Very Hard
熄火xīhuǒ(of a vehicle) to stallHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #13785, Very Hard
xīhuǒ(xi1huo3)xi huo T1
  1. 1(of fire, lamp etc) to go out
  2. 2to put out (fire)
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March 24, 2026

熄火xīhuǒ(xi1huo3)

熄火 (xī huǒ) refers to the act of extinguishing a fire or causing a flame to go out. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation or emotion that has died down or lost intensity, as well as referring to a vehicle stalling. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more formal contexts related to fire safety or vehicle operation.

Strokes18Frequency#13785DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, fire symbolizes warmth and prosperity, but it can also represent danger. Understanding terms like 熄火 is essential for safety, particularly in contexts like cooking or during festivals when fire plays a significant role.

Memory tip

Imagine a campfire that you want to put out after a long night. As you pour water on the flames, you can hear them go 'xi xi' (熄) as they are extinguished, and the fire (火) finally dies down. Visualizing this scene helps connect the characters to their meaning.

Meanings of 熄火

xīhuǒ(xi1huo3)
1(of fire, lamp etc) to go out
2to put out (fire)
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About 熄火

熄火Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 熄火

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AI study notes for 熄火

Quick Contrast

熄灭 (xīmiè) is specifically used for extinguishing a fire, while 熄火 (xīhuǒ) can refer to both extinguishing a fire and a vehicle stalling.

Usage Notes

Learners should note that 熄火 is often used in contexts involving safety or mechanical failure, so it's important to use it appropriately. Common mistakes include confusing it with other fire-related terms like '灭火' (mièhuǒ), which specifically means to extinguish fire. Remember to use the correct tone for each character to convey the intended meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 熄火 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to basic concepts of fire and vehicles found in HSK 2 and 3. Students should focus on recognizing both characters and understanding their application in safety and everyday scenarios involving fire or machines.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 熄火 with other terms related to fire. For example, saying '我灭火' (wǒ miè huǒ - I extinguish the fire) when they mean 'the fire went out' should be corrected to '火熄了' (huǒ xī le).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 熄火

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Component characters

熄xīto extinguish
14 strokes火
View full entry
火huǒfire
HSK 44 strokes火
View full entry

How to say (of fire, lamp etc) to go out in Chinese

“(of fire, lamp etc) to go out” in Chinese is熄火xīhuǒ

熄火 (xī huǒ) refers to the act of extinguishing a fire or causing a flame to go out. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation or emotion that has died down or lost intensity, as well as referring to a vehicle stalling. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more formal contexts related to fire safety or vehicle operation.

When to use 熄火

Learners should note that 熄火 is often used in contexts involving safety or mechanical failure, so it's important to use it appropriately. Common mistakes include confusing it with other fire-related terms like '灭火' (mièhuǒ), which specifically means to extinguish fire. Remember to use the correct tone for each character to convey the intended meaning.

熄火 or something close to it

熄灭 (xīmiè) is specifically used for extinguishing a fire, while 熄火 (xīhuǒ) can refer to both extinguishing a fire and a vehicle stalling.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 熄火 with other terms related to fire. For example, saying '我灭火' (wǒ miè huǒ - I extinguish the fire) when they mean 'the fire went out' should be corrected to '火熄了' (huǒ xī le).

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熄
火

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Frequently asked questions about 熄火

熄火 (xī huǒ) refers more to a fire going out naturally or a vehicle stalling, while 灭火 (miè huǒ) specifically means to extinguish a fire.

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