TongTong
Sign in

火炬 (huǒ jù) — torch; flambeau

Definition

A handheld burning stick or rolled torch used for light, ceremony, or symbolism. Unlike 火焰 (flames generally) and 火花 (small sparks), 火炬 is a specific physical object one holds or carries.

noun
torchflambeau
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 火炬。
    Tā jǔ zhe yì bǎ huǒ jù.
    She is holding a torch.
  • 火炬。
    Zhè bǎ huǒ jù hěn piào liang.
    This torch is very beautiful.
  • 火炬。
    huǒ jù Dài biǎo guāng míng.
    The torch represents light.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

火huǒfire
炬jùtorch

"火" and "炬" combine to mean a torch carried with fire, a flaming torch.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 火 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
巨
巨jù炬jù
Same sound today

炬 has 火 on the left, showing fire, and 巨 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 炬 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Miscellaneous Objects5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.