油锅

油鍋

yóuguō

noun

Measure Word

一口油锅 kǒu

Meanings

1 a deep fryer
2 pot of hot oil
3 (figurative) cauldron of oil (as torment in Buddhist hell)

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

油锅烧热后再放鱼。

Yóuguō shāo rè hòu zài fàng yú.

Heat up the oil before adding the fish.

HSK 7-9

他像热锅上的蚂蚁，又像下油锅一样焦急。

Tā xiàng règuōshàngdemǎyǐ, yòu xiàng xià yóuguō yíyàng jiāojí.

He was as frantic as an ant on a hot pot - like he'd been thrown into a frying cauldron.

Tips

culture

In Chinese folk Buddhism, 下油锅 (xià yóuguō, 'into the oil cauldron') is one of the standard punishments of the Eighteen Hells - sinners are deep-fried by demons. The image survives in everyday speech as a metaphor for unbearable distress or harsh punishment.

Stroke Order

油 yóu

锅 guō