phát hoả
Definition
- Verb:
- To catch fire / to ignite: Refers to an object or material beginning to burn, often suddenly or accidentally.
- To open fire / to start shooting: In a military or conflict context, it means to begin shooting weapons.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Căn nhà bằng gỗ rất dễ phát hoả. (The wooden house is very prone to catching fire.)
- Đơn vị đã nhận lệnh phát hoả vào mục tiêu. (The unit received the order to open fire on the target.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in formal or news contexts to describe the start of a fire or an armed engagement. It implies the initiation of a potentially dangerous or destructive action.
Variants and Related Words
- Bốc cháy (v): to burst into flames (often more intense/sudden than "phát hoả").
- Khai hoả (v): to open fire (a more formal military synonym).
Synonyms
- Catch fire: to begin burning.
- Open fire: to begin shooting.
Related Idioms
- Như củi khô gặp lửa: Literally "like dry wood meeting fire," meaning a situation escalates extremely quickly, similar to something being ready to phát hoả easily.