火種
Meanings
1
live coals; burning embers
Refers to glowing embers or coals kept alive to start a new fire. Often used in traditional or camping contexts.
We kept the live coals from the campfire alive until the next morning.
2
Figurative use for the root cause or spark that ignites trouble, conflict, or a disturbance. Common in news and formal writing.
That remark became the spark that ignited the conflict.
Economic disparity can become a cause of social unrest.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉の火種になるto become the spark/cause of (a conflict, trouble, etc.)
This remark became the spark for conflict between the two countries.
- 火種を抱えるto harbor a latent source of trouble
The company harbors a serious source of trouble internally.
- 火種がくすぶるfor an underlying tension or trouble to smolder
An old smoldering source of tension lingers between the two of them.
- 火種を絶やさないto keep embers from dying out
At the campsite, we made sure not to let the embers die out.