Definition
明火 is a noun with two main senses. The primary meaning is 'open flame' or 'blazing fire' — used literally for a fire that is visible and not covered (e.g., 明火做饭 'cook with an open flame'). It also appears in the four-character idiom 明火执仗 (míng huǒ zhí zhàng), which literally means 'carry torches and weapons' and refers to armed robbery done openly. The archeological sense (fire produced by a bronze mirror in ancient sacrifices) is extremely rare and not needed for modern Chinese.
n.
open flameblazing fire(in the phrase 明火执仗) armed robbery
Examples
- 明火，。Chúfáng lǐ bù néng yòng míng huǒ zuòfàn, zhǐ néng yòng diàncílú.You can't cook with an open flame in the kitchen; you can only use an induction cooker.
- 明火，。Sēnlín lǐ jìnzhǐ shǐyòng míng huǒ, yǐmiǎn yǐnfā huǒzāi.Open flames are prohibited in the forest to avoid causing a fire.
- 明火，。Nà huǒ rén jìngrán míng huǒ zhízhàng, qiǎngjié le yínháng.That gang actually committed an armed robbery of the bank in broad daylight.
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