火冒三丈
火冒三丈 (huǒ mào sān zhàng) literally means “fire rises three zhang” and expresses “explode in extreme anger or rage”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: huo mao san zhang, huo mao san zhang,火冒三丈 meaning, 火冒三丈 in english
Explode in extreme anger or rage
Pronunciation: huǒ mào sān zhàng Literal meaning: Fire rises three zhang
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty theater directors first used this vivid image of anger as fire (火) rising (冒) three zhang (三丈) high - about 10 meters - in stage directions. Actors were instructed to physically manifest rage at this scale to convey its overwhelming nature. Ming Dynasty writers brought this theatrical metaphor into literature, where it perfectly captured those moments when provocation creates an explosive emotional response visible to all observers.
When to Use
Situation: The manager erupted in rage upon discovering the accounting discrepancy
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 火冒三丈 mean in English?
火冒三丈 (huǒ mào sān zhàng) literally translates to “Fire rises three zhang” and is used to express “Explode in extreme anger or rage”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 火冒三丈 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving explode in extreme anger or rage.
What is the pinyin for 火冒三丈?
The pinyin pronunciation for 火冒三丈 is “huǒ mào sān zhàng”.