火上加油 add fuel to the fire
Explanation
比喻使本来就激烈的冲突或矛盾更加严重,或使不好的情况进一步恶化。
It is a metaphor for making an already intense conflict or contradiction even more serious, or making a bad situation worse.
Origin Story
从前,在一个小山村里,住着两位兄弟,哥哥性格暴躁,弟弟却很温和。一天,哥哥和邻居因为一件小事发生了争吵,越吵越凶。弟弟看到哥哥怒火中烧,并没有劝解,反而在一旁煽风点火,说一些挑拨离间的话。结果,这场争吵演变成了激烈的打斗,最后兄弟俩反目成仇。这个故事告诉我们,在发生冲突时,应该及时劝解,而不是火上加油,否则只会使事情更加糟糕。
Once upon a time, in a small mountain village, there lived two brothers. The elder brother had a bad temper, while the younger brother was very gentle. One day, the elder brother and a neighbor quarreled over a trivial matter, and the quarrel became more and more intense. Seeing his elder brother's rage, the younger brother did not try to persuade him, but instead fanned the flames by saying provocative words. As a result, the quarrel escalated into a fierce fight, and finally the two brothers turned against each other. This story tells us that when a conflict occurs, we should try to mediate promptly instead of adding fuel to the fire, otherwise things will only get worse.
Usage
常用作谓语、宾语;比喻故意使事态扩大,或使矛盾加剧。
Often used as predicate or object; metaphorically for deliberately enlarging the state or intensifying contradictions.
Examples
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他总是火上加油,使矛盾更加激化。
tā zǒngshì huǒ shàng jiā yóu, shǐ máodùn gèngjiā jīhuà
He always adds fuel to the fire, making the contradictions more intense.
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不要火上加油,否则后果不堪设想。
bùyào huǒ shàng jiā yóu, fǒuzé hòuguǒ bùkān shèxiǎng
Don't add fuel to the fire, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable.
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这种做法无疑是火上加油,只会让局势更加恶化。
zhè zhǒng zuòfǎ wúyí shì huǒ shàng jiā yóu, zhǐ huì ràng júshì gèngjiā èhuà
This approach undoubtedly adds fuel to the fire, only worsening the situation.