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March 24, 2026
恼火(惱火)nǎohuǒ(nao3huo3)
The term 恼火 (nǎo huǒ) refers to the state of being angry or irritated, often as a reaction to something that is bothersome or aggravating. It is commonly used in informal contexts to express frustration or annoyance over a situation or someone's behavior.
Frequency#7086DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing anger is often more subdued compared to Western cultures. People may use 恼火 to describe their feelings, but they might also downplay their anger in social situations to maintain harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fire (火) that is being poked and prodded, causing it to flare up in anger. The '恼' part can be visualized as a person with furrowed brows, feeling disturbed and annoyed. Together, they create an image of a person getting increasingly upset as the fire grows hotter, helping you remember that 'nǎo huǒ' means to get angry.
Meanings of 恼火
nǎohuǒ(nao3huo3)
1to get angry
2irritated
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 恼火
恼火Simplified
惱火Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#7086Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 恼火
Podcast: 恼火
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AI Study Notes for 恼火
Quick Contrast
烦恼 (fán nǎo) vs 恼火 (nǎo huǒ): use 恼火 when expressing a more immediate anger or irritation, while 烦恼 conveys a sense of long-term worry or distress.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fire (火) that is being poked and prodded, causing it to flare up in anger. The '恼' part can be visualized as a person with furrowed brows, feeling disturbed and annoyed. Together, they create an image of a person getting increasingly upset as the fire grows hotter, helping you remember that 'nǎo huǒ' means to get angry.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 恼火 with similar expressions like 生气 (shēng qì), which is more general for 'angry.' 恼火 is often used in more colloquial settings. A common collocation is 恼火的事 (nǎo huǒ de shì), meaning 'things that annoy me.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 恼火 connects to more advanced vocabulary related to emotions and reactions. Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe personal feelings or reactions to events. It's helpful to learn related words like 生气 (shēng qì) and 愤怒 (fèn nù) for broader emotional expression.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing anger is often more subdued compared to Western cultures. People may use 恼火 to describe their feelings, but they might also downplay their anger in social situations to maintain harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 恼火 in formal contexts, where a more neutral term like 生气 would be appropriate. For example, saying '在会议上我感到恼火' (I felt angry in the meeting) may sound too informal; '我在会议上感到生气' would be better.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恼火
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Grammar Patterns of 恼火
恼火 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
廖什克____地挥手让他离开。
Leshka waved him away with a show of irritation.
Example Sentences for 恼火 (10)
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1
廖什克恼火地挥手让他离开。
liào shí kè nǎo huǒ dì huī shǒu ràng tā lí kāi。
Leshka waved him away with a show of irritation.
2
尽管他只是在咕哝，可是他的措词却让罗德妮恼火。
jìn guǎn tā zhī shì zài gū nóng， ， kě shì tā de cuò cí què ràng luó dé nī nǎo。
Although he was only grumbling, his choice of words made Rodney angry.
3
有人暗示他是个种族主义者，他对此十分恼火。
yǒu rén àn shì tā shì gè zhǒng zú zhǔ yì zhě， ， tā duì cǐ shí fēn nǎo。
He bristled with indignation at the suggestion that he was racist.
It pisses me off when they start moaning about going to war.
9
国王对儿子们的纵容令商界恼火。
guó wáng duì ér zǐ mén de zòng róng líng shāng jiè nǎo huǒ。
The king's indulgence towards his sons angered the business community.
10
莉萨对男朋友肖恩吊儿郎当的态度非常恼火。
lì sà duì nán péng yǒu xiāo ēn diào ér láng dāng de tài dù fēi cháng nǎo huǒ。
Lisa was irritated by the slovenly attitude of her boyfriend Sean.
Cultural Notes for 恼火
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing anger is often more subdued compared to Western cultures. People may use 恼火 to describe their feelings, but they might also downplay their anger in social situations to maintain harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions about 恼火
恼火 is generally used in informal contexts.
Yes, you can say someone is 恼火, but it's more common to describe your own feelings.
Some synonyms include 生气 (shēng qì) and 愤怒 (fèn nù), though they may have slightly different nuances.
