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

Examples

• 这道菜对火候的要求很高，不能太大也不能太小。
  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.
• 他学画画已经十年了，笔上很有火候了。
  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.
• 谈判的火候已经到了，现在开口最合适。
  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.

Origin