Definition
扑火 is a verb-object compound (离合词) meaning literally 'to put out a fire' or 'to extinguish flames'. It also appears figuratively in the idiom 飞蛾扑火 (a moth flying into a flame), describing reckless behavior that leads to self-destruction. The compound can be separated, e.g. 扑了一整夜的火 (to fight a fire all night), with inserted elements between 扑 and 火.
vn
to put out a fireto extinguish flames(figurative) to rush to one's doom (as in 飞蛾扑火)
Examples
- 扑火。Xiāofángyuán zhèngzài pīnmìng pū huǒ.The firefighters are desperately putting out the fire.
- 扑火，。Tā zhè zhǒng xíngwéi jiù xiàng fēi'é pū huǒ yíyàng, zìqǔ mièwáng.This behavior of his is like a moth flying into a flame — bringing destruction upon himself.
- 。Xiāofāngyuán pū le yì zhěng yè de huǒ cái kòngzhì zhù huǒshì.The firefighters spent a whole night fighting the fire before they got it under control.
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