Definition
放火 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to set fire' or 'to commit arson'. It can also be used figuratively to mean 'to create disturbance' or 'to stir up trouble'. When using it, you can insert elements between 放 and 火, such as aspect markers (了, 过) or measure words (一把), resulting in forms like 放了一把火 ('set a fire') or 放过火 ('have set a fire'). The object of the action is usually not placed after the whole compound; instead, use a prepositional phrase like 在…放火.
v.o.
to set fireto commit arson(figurative) to create disturbanceto stir up trouble
Examples
- 放火。Tā yīnwèi fàng huǒ bèi jǐngchá zhuā zǒu le.He was arrested by the police for arson.
- 。Nàge huàirén zài gōngchǎng fàng le yì bǎ huǒ.That villain set a fire in the factory.
- 放火。Nǐ zài tuánduì lǐ fàng huǒ zhǐ huì ràng dàjiā dōu bù kāixīn.Stirring up trouble in the team will only make everyone unhappy.
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