火候 (huǒ hou) — (cooking) heat control; the degree and duration of heat when cooking; (figurative) mastery; a person's level of skill or control in an art or craft; (figurative) the right moment; a crucial or opportune time
Definition
Literally 'fire level' — in cooking it means the heat and timing (大/小); figuratively it extends to skill mastery or the right moment to act.
noun
(cooking) heat controlthe degree and duration of heat when cooking(figurative) masterya person's level of skill or control in an art or craft(figurative) the right momenta crucial or opportune time
Examples
- 火候，。Zhè dào cài duì huǒ hou de yāo qiú hěn gāo, bù néng tài dà yě bù néng tài xiǎo.This dish has very high requirements for heat control; it cannot be too high or too low.
- ，火候。Tā xué huà huà yǐ jīng shí nián le, bǐ shàng hěn yǒu huǒ hou le.He has been learning painting for ten years, so his brushwork shows great mastery.
- 火候，。Tán pàn de huǒ hou yǐ jīng dào le, xiàn zài kāi kǒu zuì hé shì.The crucial moment in the negotiation has arrived; now is the best time to speak up.
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