火上浇油...
huo shang jiao you...
Add fuel to fire...
Literally: Fire (火) on (上) pour (浇) oil (油)
In 15 Seconds
- Making a bad situation or someone's anger significantly worse.
- Commonly used to describe provocative actions during an argument.
- Equivalent to the English 'adding fuel to the fire'.
Meaning
This phrase describes making a bad situation even worse by adding more conflict or intensity. It is like throwing gasoline on a small fire just when it was starting to burn out.
Key Examples
3 of 6Observing a heated argument
他们已经在吵架了，你这时候提那件事真是火上浇油。
They are already fighting; bringing that up now is really adding fuel to the fire.
Discussing a bad business decision
公司本来就亏损，现在的罢工更是火上浇油。
The company was already losing money; the current strike is adding fuel to the fire.
Texting a friend about a mistake
别再说了，你这是在火上浇油！
Stop talking, you're just making things worse!
Cultural Background
The phrase is often used to criticize someone who lacks 'emotional intelligence' (情商).
Context is key
Only use this when you want to criticize someone's behavior.
In 15 Seconds
- Making a bad situation or someone's anger significantly worse.
- Commonly used to describe provocative actions during an argument.
- Equivalent to the English 'adding fuel to the fire'.
What It Means
Imagine a small fire burning in a kitchen. Instead of water, someone pours a bucket of oil on it. The result is an explosion. This phrase 火上浇油 (huǒ shàng jiāo yóu) is exactly that. It describes an action that intensifies a conflict. It makes a person's anger or a difficult situation much worse. It is not about starting the fire. It is about making an existing fire uncontrollable.
How To Use It
You usually use it as a verb phrase. You can say someone is 火上浇油. It often follows words like 是在 (is) or 只会 (will only). For example, if your friend is already crying about a breakup, telling them their ex is already dating someone else is 火上浇油. You are the one holding the oil bucket in that scenario.
When To Use It
Use this when you see someone making a tense moment worse. It works perfectly in office politics. Use it when a boss is angry and a colleague brings up another mistake. It is great for storytelling too. You can describe a plot twist that makes the hero's life harder. It is common in daily gossip. Use it when discussing family dramas or celebrity scandals.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for positive situations. If you add more joy to a party, that is not 火上浇油. Also, avoid using it if there was no 'fire' to begin with. If everything is calm, you cannot pour oil on it. It requires an existing state of tension or anger. Using it for a minor, non-emotional mistake might feel too dramatic. Use it for things that involve 'heat' or 'passion'.
Cultural Background
This idiom comes from the classic novel 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. It reflects a deep Chinese social awareness of harmony. In Chinese culture, keeping the 'face' of others is important. 火上浇油 is the ultimate violation of this harmony. It suggests a lack of tact or even malicious intent. It has been a staple of Chinese conversation for centuries. It remains one of the most recognized 'Chengyu' (four-character idioms) today.
Common Variations
A common variation is 雪上加霜 (xuě shàng jiā shuāng). That means 'adding frost to snow'. While 火上浇油 is about making anger or conflict worse, 雪上加霜 is about making a series of misfortunes even harder to bear. Use the fire version for anger and the snow version for bad luck. Another similar one is 推波助澜, which means 'adding waves to the tide'.
Usage Notes
This is a very versatile idiom. It fits perfectly in both casual gossip and formal news reports. Just be careful when using it directly toward someone, as it can sound like a sharp criticism of their behavior.
Context is key
Only use this when you want to criticize someone's behavior.
Examples
6他们已经在吵架了，你这时候提那件事真是火上浇油。
They are already fighting; bringing that up now is really adding fuel to the fire.
Describes a specific action that worsens a verbal conflict.
公司本来就亏损，现在的罢工更是火上浇油。
The company was already losing money; the current strike is adding fuel to the fire.
Used in a professional context to describe compounding problems.
别再说了，你这是在火上浇油！
Stop talking, you're just making things worse!
A direct warning to someone to stop their provocative behavior.
他弄坏了电脑，又把咖啡洒在上面，真是火上浇油。
He broke the computer and then spilled coffee on it—talk about making things worse.
Used lightheartedly to describe a series of unfortunate events.
这种不负责任的言论无疑是火上浇油。
These irresponsible remarks are undoubtedly adding fuel to the flames.
Used to criticize public figures or political actions.
我知道你很烦，我不想再火上浇油了。
I know you're frustrated; I don't want to add to your stress.
Shows empathy by acknowledging the person's current state.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing character.
他这样做简直是火上____油。
The standard idiom is {火|huǒ}{上|shàng}{浇|jiāo}{油|yóu}.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercises他这样做简直是火上____油。
The standard idiom is {火|huǒ}{上|shàng}{浇|jiāo}{油|yóu}.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsNo, it is strictly figurative.
Related Phrases
{雪|xuě}{上|shàng}{加|jiā}{霜|shuāng}
similarAdding frost to snow.
