放火

fànghuǒ

verb #9,454

Meanings

HSK 6

有人故意放火烧了那栋楼。

Yǒurén gùyì fànghuǒ shāo le nà dòng lóu.

Someone deliberately set fire to that building.

HSK 7-9

放火是严重的犯罪。

Fànghuǒ shì yánzhòng de fànzuì.

Arson is a serious crime.

HSK 7-9

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。

Zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng.

The magistrate may set fires, but the commoners may not light lamps.

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 (to catch fire) or 失火 (fire breaks out).

放 fàng

火 huǒ