Usage note
着火表示开始燃烧。
zháo huǒ biǎo shì kāi shǐ rán shāo。
Catch fire means to start burning.
Context note
着火常用于火灾、安全和紧急情况。
zháo huǒ cháng yòng yú huǒ zāi 、 ān quán hé jǐn jí qíng kuàng。
Catch fire is often used with fires, safety, and emergencies.
5 examples
房子着火了。
fáng zi zháo huǒ le。
The house caught fire.
树叶着火了。
shù yè zháo huǒ le。
The leaves caught fire.
请小心，不要着火。
qǐng xiǎo xīn， bú yào zháo huǒ。
Please be careful and do not catch fire.
厨房差点着火。
chú fáng chà diǎn zháo huǒ。
The kitchen almost caught fire.
如果着火，马上报警。
rú guǒ zháo huǒ， mǎ shàng bào jǐng。
If there is a fire, call the police immediately.
5 mini stories
晚上大家发现院子里着火了。
wǎn shàng dà jiā fā xiàn yuàn zi lǐ zháo huǒ le。
At night everyone found that the yard had caught fire.
他把火赶紧扑灭，没让东西着火。
tā bǎ huǒ gǎn jǐn pū miè， méi ràng dōng xī zháo huǒ。
He quickly put out the fire and did not let anything catch fire.
老师提醒我们远离容易着火的东西。
lǎo shī tí xǐng wǒ men yuǎn lí róng yì zháo huǒ de dōng xī。
The teacher reminded us to stay away from things that catch fire easily.
厨房里着火了，大家赶快出去。
chú fáng lǐ zháo huǒ le， dà jiā gǎn kuài chū qù。
The kitchen caught fire, and everyone rushed out.
看到着火，先保持冷静。
kàn dào zháo huǒ， xiān bǎo chí lěng jìng。
If you see a fire, stay calm first.
Mini dialogue
安全用火
A
纸离蜡烛太近会着火的。
Zhǐ lí làzhú tài jìn huì zháo huǒ de.
Paper too close to a candle can catch fire.
B
谢谢提醒，我会小心不让东西着火。
Xièxiè tíxǐng, wǒ huì xiǎoxīn bù ràng dōngxi zháo huǒ.
Thanks for the reminder, I'll be careful not to let things catch fire.
厨房帮忙
A
妈妈，锅里的油好像着火了！
Māma, guō lǐ de yóu hǎoxiàng zháo huǒ le!
Mom, the oil in the pan seems to have caught fire!
B
别怕，快用锅盖盖住，火就会灭的。
Bié pà, kuài yòng guō gài gài zhù, huǒ jiù huì miè de.
Don't be afraid, quickly cover it with the lid, the fire will go out.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
灭火
mièhuǒ
to put out a fire
着火 means to catch fire, 灭火 means to extinguish a fire.
related
火灾
huǒzāi
fire disaster
着火 is the action of catching fire, 火灾 is the event of a big, harmful fire.