Definition
熄火 (xī huǒ) is a separable verb (e.g., 熄了火) meaning a fire to go out or a vehicle to stall. It contrasts with 扑灭 (pū miè), which implies actively extinguishing a fire, while 熄火 suggests the flame dies on its own or the engine unintentionally stops. Unlike 停车 (tíng chē), which can mean a machine stops operating, 熄火 specifically refers to the fire or engine dying.
verb
(of fire, lamp, etc.) to go outto put out (fire)(of a vehicle) to stall(figurative) to die downto fade
Easily confused
- 熄灭xī mièlook-aliketo go out (of fire, light, etc.); to be extinguished
Examples
- 。Chē zài bàn lù shàng xī le huǒ.The car stalled halfway.
- 熄火,。Lúzi lǐ de huǒ xī huǒ le, xūyào zài jiā diǎn chái.The fire in the stove went out; need to add more wood.
- ,熄火。Jīngguò nà cì shībài, tā de chuàngyè rèqíng chèdǐ xī huǒ le.After that failure, his entrepreneurial enthusiasm completely died down.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.