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放火

fànghuǒ
verb #9,454

Meanings

  1. 1 to set fire to
  2. 2 to commit arson

Examples

有人故意放火烧了那栋楼。
Yǒu rén gùyì fànghuǒ shāo le nà dòng lóu.
Someone deliberately set fire to that building.
放火是严重的犯罪。
Fànghuǒ shì yánzhòng de fànzuì.
Arson is a serious crime.
只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。
Zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bù xǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng.
The magistrate may set fires, but the commoners may not light lamps.

Tips

culture
只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 is a famous idiom meaning 'one rule for the powerful, another for ordinary people' — highlighting hypocrisy and double standards.
usage
放火 specifically means intentional arson. For accidental fires, use 着火 (zháohuǒ, to catch fire) or 失火 (shīhuǒ, fire breaks out).

Stroke Order

放 fàng
火 huǒ