Definition

1. Verb (archaic, literary):
   • To ignite a fire; to kindle: The literal meaning refers to the act of starting a fire using a tool like a flint or a fire starter.
   • To incite; to inflame; to provoke: The figurative and more common meaning is to stir up strong emotions, passions, or conflicts, such as anger, enthusiasm, or discord.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Literal):
  • Người xưa dùng đá lửa để tiêm lửa. (The ancients used flint to ignite a fire.)
• Verb (Figurative):
  • Bài diễn văn đó có mục đích tiêm lửa vào đám đông. (That speech aimed to inflame the crowd.)
  • Hắn cố tình tiêm lửa mâu thuẫn giữa hai người. (He deliberately incited conflict between the two.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is primarily used in literary, historical, or formal contexts. In modern everyday Vietnamese, words like "châm lửa" (to light a fire) or "khích động" (to incite) are more common for the literal and figurative meanings, respectively.

Variants and Related Words

• Châm lửa (v): to light a fire (modern equivalent for the literal action).
• Khích động (v): to incite, to provoke (modern equivalent for the figurative action).
• Kích thích (v): to stimulate (generally, not necessarily negative).

Synonyms

• Ignite: to cause to start burning.
• Incite: to encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior).
• Provoke: to stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one).
• Inflame: to provoke or intensify strong feelings.

Related Idioms

• While "tiêm lửa" itself is not commonly part of a fixed idiom, its meaning is closely related to the concept of:
  • Thêm dầu vào lửa: to add fuel to the fire (to make a bad situation worse).

    • Lời nói của anh ta như thêm dầu vào lửa. (His words were like adding fuel to the fire.)