借火 (jiè huǒ) — to ask for a light (for a cigarette, etc.)

Definition

A fixed phrase for 'to ask for a light' (a lighter or match to light a cigarette). 借 here is the verb 'to borrow'; the object is 火, the flame itself.

verb

to ask for a light (for a cigarette, etc.)

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

借 means to borrow, and 火 means fire, giving the sense of asking for a light.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

人人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

昔

昔xī借jiè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

借 combines 人, a person, with 昔, which shows the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

火 is a simple drawing of a fire, with flames shown rising upward.