huǒ chái
match
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我需要买一盒火柴。
wǒ xūyào mǎi yī hé huǒchái.
I need to buy a box of matches.
火柴在抽屉里。
huǒchái zài chōutiǎo lǐ.
The matches are in the drawer.
用火柴点燃蜡烛。
yòng huǒchái diǎnrán làzhú.
Use a match to light the candle.
洋火 (yánghuǒ)
match
火柴棍 (huǒcháigùn)
matchstick
打火机 (dǎhuǒjī)
lighter
火机 (huǒjī)
lighter
The Chinese word for match, 火柴 (huǒchái), is composed of two characters: 火 (huǒ), meaning "fire", and 柴 (chái), meaning "wood". The word 火柴 literally translates to "fire wood", which accurately describes the function of a match. Matches are small sticks of wood that are coated with a flammable substance, such as phosphorus, and are used to create a flame. The character 火 is also used in other Chinese words related to fire, such as 火车 (huǒchē), meaning "train", and 火箭 (huǒjiàn), meaning "rocket". The character 柴 is also used in other Chinese words related to wood, such as 柴火 (cháihuǒ), meaning "firewood", and 柴油 (cháiyóu), meaning "diesel fuel".
