verb HSK 4
Traditional 發火
to get angry · to lose one's temper · to flare up
Meaning
发火 literally means 'to emit fire' and describes the act of losing one's temper or becoming angry. It's a common verb used to express sudden or visible anger, often used when someone's patience runs out and they express their frustration openly.
Usage
This is a colloquial, everyday term used in spoken Chinese. It describes visible, outward displays of anger rather than suppressed frustration. Commonly used with 对 (duì) to indicate who the anger is directed at, or with 了 (le) to indicate the anger has occurred. More informal than 生气 (shēng qì).
Examples
- 01老板今天对我发火了，因为我迟到了。, .The boss got angry at me today because I was late.
- 02别发火，我们可以好好谈谈。, .Don't get angry, we can talk this through calmly.
Characters
Common collocations
- 对...发火...to get angry at/with...
- 发火了got angry
- 容易发火easily angered, quick-tempered
- 别发火don't get angry
Antonyms
Origin
The metaphor of 'emitting fire' to describe anger is intuitive across cultures, linking the heat and intensity of fire to emotional outbursts.