导火索 (dǎo huǒ suǒ) — fuse (for explosives); (figurative) spark, trigger, direct cause (of a conflict or incident)
Definition
Literally a physical fuse on explosives; figuratively the 'spark' that sets off a larger conflict or incident. Unlike 引发 (the act of triggering), 导火索 is the concrete thing or event that sets it off.
noun
fuse (for explosives)(figurative) sparktriggerdirect cause (of a conflict or incident)
Measure word · 根
Examples
- 导火索，。Qǐng xiǎo xīn zhè gēn dǎo huǒ suǒ, tā mǎ shàng jiù yào shāo wán le.Please be careful with this fuse; it's about to burn out.
- 导火索。Zhè jiàn shì chéng le liǎng guó chōng tū de dǎo huǒ suǒ.This incident became the spark of the conflict between the two countries.
- 导火索。Tā de yán lùn chéng le yǐn fā kàng yì de dǎo huǒ suǒ.His remarks became the trigger that ignited the protests.
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