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

油锅烧热后再放鱼。

Yóuguō shāorè hòu zài fàng yú.

Heat up the oil before adding the fish.

他像热锅上的蚂蚁，又像下油锅一样焦急。

Tā xiàng rè guō shàng de mǎyǐ, yòu xiàng xià yóuguō yí yàng 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