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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.

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.

导火guide fire
导dǎoguide火huǒfire
动宾Verb + object
索suǒrope

导 (guide) and 火 (fire) and 索 (rope) make a rope that leads the fire.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 導; 导 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
道
道dào導
Same sound today

The traditional form 導 pairs 道 (path) as the sound part with 寸 (hand), giving the sense of leading someone. The simplified 导 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 导 →

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 糸糸mìthread
  • 𣎳𣎳𣎳strip fibres off a hemp stalk

索 combines 糸 (thread) and 𣎳 (stripping fibres from a hemp stalk), showing threads or rope being pulled out from a fabric.

Open 索 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Cause, Effect & LogicMilitary & Defense

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