fire
fire — 名詞
1. the condition of burning, in which flames, heat, and light are produced — the ba
燃燒
物體燃燒產生的火焰和熱
the condition of burning, in which flames, heat, and light are produced — the basic physical process of something being alight.
The old shed was destroyed by fire last night.
昨晚那間舊棚屋被大火燒毀了。
Smoke from the fire could be seen from three kilometres away.
從三公里外就能看到火災產生的濃煙。
The fire spread quickly through the dry forest.
火勢迅速蔓延，穿過乾燥的森林。
Trang put more wood on the fire to keep it burning.
Trang 在火堆裡添了更多木柴，保持火焰不熄。
2. an event in which something unwanted burns and is damaged or destroyed, such as
火災
造成損壞的火災事件
an event in which something unwanted burns and is damaged or destroyed, such as a house, building, or area of forest.
A fire broke out in the kitchen of the restaurant.
餐廳的廚房突然發生火災。
collocation: a fire breaks out
Firefighters arrived quickly and put the fire out within an hour.
消防員迅速趕到，在一小時內撲滅了火勢。
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
起火原因仍在調查中。
Hyun's family lost their home in a house fire last winter.
Hyun 一家人在去年冬天的一場住宅火災中失去了家園。
Three people were rescued from the burning building by the fire brigade.
消防隊從燃燒的建築物中救出了三個人。
用法筆記
Use this sense (countable) when referring to a specific fire event. Use sense 1 (uncountable) when referring to the general substance or process of burning.
常見錯誤
3. a small, controlled pile of burning wood, coal, or other fuel, used outdoors or
爐火
用於取暖或烹飪的小火
a small, controlled pile of burning wood, coal, or other fuel, used outdoors or in a fireplace for warmth or cooking.
The campers sat around the campfire telling stories all night.
露營的人們整晚圍坐在營火旁講故事。
compound: campfire
Élise lit a fire in the fireplace to warm the living room.
Élise 在壁爐裡生了火，讓客廳暖和起來。
pattern: light a fire
The children sat around the fire and toasted marshmallows on long sticks.
孩子們在火上烤棉花糖。
We built a small fire on the beach to cook fish.
我們在沙灘上生了小火來烤魚。
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (DESTRUCTIVE FIRE): this sense describes a safe, intentional fire for warmth or cooking, not an unwanted, damaging one.
4. a room heater that runs on gas or electricity and keeps indoor spaces warm.
暖爐
瓦斯或電暖爐設備
a room heater that runs on gas or electricity and keeps indoor spaces warm.
Omar turned on the gas fire in the sitting room.
Omar 打開了客廳的瓦斯暖爐。
British usage: gas fire
The electric fire in the bedroom was making a strange noise.
臥室的電暖爐發出了奇怪的聲音。
We need to service the fire before winter comes.
我們需要在冬天來臨之前檢修暖爐。
Vivek switched the fire off before leaving the house.
Vivek 在離開房子前關掉了暖爐。
用法筆記
This sense is most common in British English. In American English, 'heater' or 'space heater' is more typical. Often used with 'gas' or 'electric' as a compound: 'gas fire', 'electric fire'.
5. bullets, shells, or missiles released from guns, rifles, and similar weapons, es
炮火
武器發射的火力
bullets, shells, or missiles released from guns, rifles, and similar weapons, especially during military combat.
The soldiers came under heavy fire from the hills.
士兵們在丘陵地帶遭到猛烈的炮火攻擊。
collocation: under fire
Enemy fire forced the team to pull back.
敵方的火力迫使小隊撤退。
The sound of distant fire could be heard all night.
整晚都能聽到遠處的槍炮聲。
Paloma trained for weeks in how to return fire safely.
Paloma 花了數週訓練如何安全地還擊。
用法筆記
Uncountable. Frequently appears in military and security contexts. 'Under fire' also has a figurative meaning — see the idiom-like phrase 'come under fire' (meaning to be criticised).
6. the moment when someone begins shooting a weapon at a target, especially in a mi
開火
開始射擊的動作
the moment when someone begins shooting a weapon at a target, especially in a military or combat situation.
The troops opened fire on the advancing vehicles.
部隊朝逼近的車輛開火。
pattern: open fire on [target]
Police officers are trained not to open fire unless necessary.
警察受過訓練，非必要不會開火。
Darius ordered his men to hold their fire until the enemy was within range.
Darius 命令他的士兵等到敵人進入射程才開火。
Aarav ordered his soldiers to hold their fire until the signal.
Aarav 命令他的士兵等待信號才開火。
文法句型
open fire on/at [someone/something]
用法筆記
Most often encountered in the fixed phrase 'open fire' (begin shooting) and 'hold your fire' (wait before shooting). The noun itself rarely stands alone in this sense without the verb 'open' or 'hold'.
常見錯誤
7. a very strong feeling of anger, enthusiasm, passion, or energy that makes someon
激情
強烈的情緒或熱忱
a very strong feeling of anger, enthusiasm, passion, or energy that makes someone act with intensity.
Her speech was full of fire and moved the audience to tears.
她的演說充滿激情，令觀眾感動落淚。
collocation: full of fire
The fire in his voice showed how strongly he felt about justice.
他語氣中的激情顯示出他對正義有多麼堅持。
The team showed tremendous fire and determination in every game.
這支球隊在每場比賽中都展現出極大的熱情和決心。
The young painter's eyes burned with creative fire.
那位年輕畫家的眼中燃燒著創作熱情。
Ezra spoke with such fire that even the doubters began to believe.
Ezra 以如此激昂的語氣說話，連原本懷疑的人都開始相信了。
- apathy
lack of interest or emotion, opposite of the energy in this sense
用法筆記
Uncountable or singular only. Often used in the fixed phrase 'fire in [one's] belly', meaning strong desire to succeed. This is a figurative extension — the speaker is comparing strong feeling to a burning flame.
8. harsh words or strong written comments that attack someone or something, express
抨擊
嚴厲的批評或攻擊
harsh words or strong written comments that attack someone or something, expressing serious disapproval.
The new policy came under heavy fire from opposition MPs.
這項新政策遭到反對黨議員的猛烈抨擊。
collocation: come under fire (figurative)
The CEO faced a fire of angry questions from shareholders.
執行長面對股東一連串憤怒的質問。
His article drew fire from readers across the country.
他的文章引來全國各地讀者的砲轟。
Yasmin's proposal was met with a fire of complaints.
Yasmin 的提案遭遇了一連串的投訴。
- praise
positive feedback; the opposite of harsh criticism
用法筆記
Uncountable. Always figurative — the speaker compares criticism to being shot at. Common collocations: 'come under fire', 'draw fire', 'a fire of [questions/criticisms]'. Distinguish from sense 7 (PASSION), which is about strong positive or neutral feeling, not attack.
常見錯誤
fire — 動詞
1. to cause a gun, bow, or other weapon to send out bullets, arrows, or similar pro
開槍
發射武器
to cause a gun, bow, or other weapon to send out bullets, arrows, or similar projectiles.
The soldier fired his rifle at the target.
那名士兵朝目標開槍射擊。
David fired three shots into the air as a warning.
David 對空鳴了三槍作為警告。
collocation: fire shots
Hyun is learning how to fire a bow and arrow safely.
Hyun 正在學習如何安全地開弓射箭。
The police ordered the man not to fire.
警方命令那名男子不要開槍。
Trang fired at the target and hit the centre.
Trang 朝目標射擊，正中靶心。
文法句型
fire + weapon
fire at + target
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (fire a gun / fire an arrow) or intransitively (Don't fire!). The weapon is the object, not the person being shot. To say someone was shot, use 'shoot', not 'fire'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He fired me.' (ambiguous — this means he dismissed me from my job, not that he shot at me). Make context clear.
2. to direct a quick series of questions, criticisms, or remarks at someone, often
質問
連珠炮式提問或批評
to direct a quick series of questions, criticisms, or remarks at someone, often in an intense or aggressive way.
The journalists fired questions at the minister as she left the building.
記者們在部長離開大樓時連珠炮般地提出問題。
pattern: fire questions at [someone]
Eli fired off an angry email to his manager.
Eli 怒氣沖沖地迅速發了一封電子郵件給他的經理。
phrasal variant: fire off
During the debate, each candidate fired criticisms at the other.
辯論中，每位候選人都向對方提出尖銳的批評。
The teacher fired one maths problem after another at the class.
老師向全班接連提出一個又一個數學問題。
- pepper with questions
similar metaphor but suggests many questions from multiple directions
- bombard
an even stronger word; 'bombard someone with questions'
文法句型
fire + questions/criticisms + at + person
用法筆記
Figurative extension of sense 1 (DISCHARGE WEAPON). The rapid questions/criticisms are compared to bullets. Common collocation: 'fire off' + (letter/email/message), meaning to send it quickly, often in anger.
3. to make someone leave their job, often because they performed poorly or the empl
開除
解僱員工
to make someone leave their job, often because they performed poorly or the employer needs to spend less money.
The company fired ten employees after the merger.
公司在合併後開除了十名員工。
Paloma was fired from her job for arriving late too often.
Paloma 因為太常遲到而被開除。
passive: be fired from [job]
The boss threatened to fire anyone who used the phone for personal calls.
老闆威脅說，誰用公司電話講私人電話就開除誰。
Vivek got fired after only two weeks at the company.
Vivek 進公司才兩週就被炒魷魚了。
文法句型
fire + person + from + job
用法筆記
Informal. The formal equivalent is 'dismiss' or 'terminate (someone's) employment'. Commonly used in the passive: 'get fired' is very frequent. Not used in extremely formal writing (e.g. legal documents). 'You're fired!' became famous from the TV show The Apprentice.
常見錯誤
4. to create a strong feeling such as excitement, enthusiasm, passion, or determina
激發
激起強烈情感
to create a strong feeling such as excitement, enthusiasm, passion, or determination in someone — like lighting a fire in their mind or heart.
The coach's speech fired the team with determination to win.
教練的演講激發了球隊奪勝的決心。
pattern: fire [someone] with [emotion]
The documentary fired her imagination and made her want to travel.
這部紀錄片激發了她的想像力，讓她想要去旅行。
collocation: fire the imagination
Omar's stories about space exploration fired the children's curiosity.
Omar 講述的太空探索故事激發了孩子們的好奇心。
Trang was fired by a deep desire to help her community.
Trang 內心深處幫助社區的渴望驅動著她。
- dampen
to reduce enthusiasm or excitement
文法句型
fire + someone + with + emotion
fire + someone + to do something
用法筆記
Literary and formal feeling. Common collocation 'fire someone's imagination' (make someone excitedly interested). Passive form 'be fired by [an emotion]' is also frequent. Distinguish from sense 7 of the noun (PASSION) — this is the verb form of the same metaphorical idea.
5. to place clay objects in a very hot oven (kiln) so they become permanently hard
燒製
用高溫燒製陶土
to place clay objects in a very hot oven (kiln) so they become permanently hard and can be used as pots, bowls, or bricks.
The potter fired the bowls in a kiln at over a thousand degrees.
陶藝師在攝氏一千度以上的窯中燒製碗盤。
Yasmin learned how to fire clay pots during her ceramics class.
Yasmin 在陶藝課上學習如何燒製陶土器皿。
collocation: fire clay
The tiles must be fired twice to achieve the right finish.
這些瓷磚必須燒兩次才能達到理想的效果。
If you do not fire the clay long enough, it will crack.
如果陶土燒得不夠久，就會裂開。
文法句型
fire + clay object
用法筆記
Technical term in pottery and ceramics. Not used for cooking food — that is 'bake' or 'cook'. The noun 'firing' (as in 'the first firing of the kiln') is also common in this context.
常見錯誤
6. to make something start burning, either on purpose or by accident, setting it al
點燃
使物體燃燒起火
to make something start burning, either on purpose or by accident, setting it alight.
Someone fired the barn and it burned to the ground.
有人點火燒了穀倉，整棟建築化為灰燼。
collocation: fire a building
The protestors fired several cars during the street clashes.
抗議者在街頭衝突中點燃了好幾輛車。
Sparks from the train wheels fired the dry grass beside the track.
火車車輪迸出的火花點燃了鐵軌旁的乾草。
Emily carefully fired the pile of leaves with a match.
Emily 小心翼翼地用火柴點燃了那堆樹葉。
- set fire to
the much more common phrase for this meaning
- set alight
British English; similar meaning
- ignite
formal or technical; 'ignite a fuel'
- extinguish
to put out a fire
- put out
everyday phrasal verb for stopping a fire
文法句型
fire + object
用法筆記
Less common than 'set fire to' or 'set on fire' in everyday speech. More frequent in formal writing, news reports, or historical contexts. The noun phrase 'set fire to' is much more common for the same meaning.