dǎhuǒjī: 打火机 - Lighter, Cigarette Lighter

• Keywords: dǎhuǒjī, 打火机, Chinese for lighter, cigarette lighter in Chinese, how to say lighter in Mandarin, what is dǎhuǒjī, Chinese smoking culture, borrow a light in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to say “lighter” in Chinese with the word 打火机 (dǎhuǒjī). This guide provides a complete breakdown of this essential vocabulary, from its literal meaning of “strike fire machine” to its practical use in daily conversation and its role in Chinese social etiquette, particularly related to smoking culture. Discover example sentences, cultural context, and related terms to master this useful word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎ huǒ jī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A portable device used to create a flame, i.e., a lighter.
• In a Nutshell: 打火机 (dǎhuǒjī) is a highly logical and descriptive word. It refers to the small, handheld device used to light cigarettes, candles, or stoves. It's a direct and functional term, much like its English counterpart, and is one of the most common words you'll encounter in daily life in China.

• 打 (dǎ): The primary meaning is “to strike” or “to hit”. Think of the action of striking a flint to create a spark.
• 火 (huǒ): This character means “fire”. It's a simple pictograph that originally looked like a flame.
• 机 (jī): This character means “machine” or “device”. It's found in many words for modern technology, like 手机 (shǒujī - hand machine/cell phone) and 飞机 (fēijī - fly machine/airplane).

When combined, 打火机 (dǎhuǒjī) literally translates to a “strike-fire-machine,” a perfectly logical description of what a lighter does.

While a lighter is a simple utilitarian object, its use is tied to social interactions, particularly within China's widespread smoking culture. Offering someone a light with your 打火机 is a common and simple gesture of goodwill and politeness, similar to holding a door open for someone in the West. It's a small act that can break the ice between strangers or reinforce a connection between friends or colleagues. If you smoke, knowing how to ask to borrow a lighter or offer a light is a basic but important social skill. In a business context, a senior person or client might be offered a cigarette, and the junior person is often expected to be quick to provide a light with their 打-火机. This demonstrates attentiveness and respect. While smoking rates are declining globally, this social ritual remains common in many parts of China, making the 打火机 a small but significant tool in daily social currency.

The term 打火机 is used in all contexts, from formal to highly informal. It's a neutral, everyday noun.

• In daily conversation: People use it to ask for a light, mention they've lost theirs, or ask a friend to pick one up from the store.
• At a convenience store: It's one of the most common items sold at the counter of any 便利店 (biànlìdiàn - convenience store) or small shop. You can simply say “我要一个打火机” (Wǒ yào yī ge dǎhuǒjī - I want a lighter).
• At security checks: At airports or train stations, you'll often be reminded that lighters (打火机) are prohibited.

The word itself doesn't carry any strong positive or negative connotations; it is purely descriptive.

• Example 1:
  • 师傅，借个打火机用一下，行吗？
  • Pinyin: Shīfu, jiè ge dǎhuǒjī yòng yīxià, xíng ma?
  • English: Sir, could I borrow a lighter for a second?
  • Analysis: A very common and polite way to ask a stranger for a light. 师傅 (shīfu) is a general polite term for a skilled worker or any man older than you. 借 (jiè) means “to borrow.”
• Example 2:
  • 我的打火机没气了，我得去买个新的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de dǎhuǒjī méi qì le, wǒ děi qù mǎi ge xīn de.
  • English: My lighter is out of gas, I need to go buy a new one.
  • Analysis: 没气了 (méi qì le) literally means “has no gas” and is the standard way to say a lighter is empty.
• Example 3:
  • 你能帮我在楼下便利店带一个打火机吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zài lóuxià biànlìdiàn dài yī ge dǎhuǒjī ma?
  • English: Can you bring me back a lighter from the convenience store downstairs?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a simple, everyday request between friends or family. 带 (dài) here means “to bring back” or “to pick up for someone.”
• Example 4:
  • 机场安检不允许随身携带打火机。
  • Pinyin: Jīchǎng ānjiǎn bù yǔnxǔ suíshēn xiédài dǎhuǒjī.
  • English: Airport security does not permit you to carry lighters on your person.
  • Analysis: This is a formal announcement or rule you might see or hear. 安检 (ānjiǎn) means “security check.”
• Example 5:
  • 他送给我一个很漂亮的Zippo打火机作为生日礼物。
  • Pinyin: Tā sòng gěi wǒ yī ge hěn piàoliang de Zippo dǎhuǒjī zuòwéi shēngrì lǐwù.
  • English: He gave me a very beautiful Zippo lighter as a birthday present.
  • Analysis: Shows how you can describe a specific type or brand of lighter.
• Example 6:
  • 对不起，我也不抽烟，所以我没有打火机。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ yě bù chōuyān, suǒyǐ wǒ méiyǒu dǎhuǒjī.
  • English: Sorry, I don't smoke either, so I don't have a lighter.
  • Analysis: A common way to reply when someone asks to borrow a lighter and you don't have one.
• Example 7:
  • 我们用打火机把生日蜡烛点燃吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yòng dǎhuǒjī bǎ shēngrì làzhú diǎnrán ba.
  • English: Let's use the lighter to light the birthday candles.
  • Analysis: This shows the use of 打火机 for a purpose other than smoking. 点燃 (diǎnrán) means “to ignite.”
• Example 8:
  • 这种防风打火机在户外特别好用。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng fángfēng dǎhuǒjī zài hùwài tèbié hǎo yòng.
  • English: This kind of windproof lighter is especially useful outdoors.
  • Analysis: 防风 (fángfēng) means “windproof,” showing how you can add adjectives to describe the lighter.
• Example 9:
  • 我好像把打火机忘在餐厅了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hǎoxiàng bǎ dǎhuǒjī wàng zài cāntīng le.
  • English: I think I left my lighter at the restaurant.
  • Analysis: A common sentence structure using 把 (bǎ) to talk about misplacing an object.
• Example 10:
  • 小卖部最便宜的打火机一块钱一个。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎomàibù zuì piányi de dǎhuǒjī yī kuài qián yī ge.
  • English: The cheapest lighters at the corner store are one yuan each.
  • Analysis: Useful for understanding the cost and context of buying a simple, disposable lighter in China. 小卖部 (xiǎomàibù) is a small kiosk or corner store.

• Pronunciation: The biggest pitfall for learners is the tones: dǎ (3rd) huǒ (3rd) jī (1st). When two 3rd tones are together, the first one changes to a 2nd tone. So, in practice, it is pronounced “dá huǒ jī”. Getting this tone sandhi correct is key to being understood.
• 打火机 vs. 火柴 (huǒchái): While both create fire, 打火机 is a modern lighter and 火柴 (huǒchái) means “matches”. In modern China, 打火机 is overwhelmingly more common for daily use. You would specify 火柴 if you specifically needed matches, for instance, for a campfire or a specific aesthetic purpose. For lighting a cigarette, 99% of the time, people use or ask for a 打火机.
• Incorrect Usage: Don't confuse the 打 (dǎ) here with its other meanings. For example, you cannot say “打一个火” (dǎ yī ge huǒ) to mean “give me a light.” The correct phrase is “借个火” (jiè ge huǒ - borrow a fire/light) or more directly, “借个打火机” (jiè ge dǎhuǒjī).

• 抽烟 (chōuyān) - To smoke (a cigarette). The primary action associated with needing a 打火机.
• 香烟 (xiāngyān) - Cigarette. The object that is most often lit by a 打火机.
• 点火 (diǎnhuǒ) - To light a fire, to ignite. The verb for the action a 打火机 performs.
• 火柴 (huǒchái) - Matches. The low-tech alternative to a lighter.
• 借火 (jiè huǒ) - To borrow a light. A common, colloquial phrase used by smokers.
• 便利店 (biànlìdiàn) - Convenience store. The most common place to buy a cheap, disposable 打火机.
• 没气了 (méi qì le) - Out of gas. The phrase used to say a lighter is empty.
• 加油 (jiāyóu) - To add gas/oil. The action of refilling a Zippo-style lighter. (Also famously means “Go for it!/Come on!”).