1.
to light (a fire, candle, stove, etc.); to ignite
To start a flame on something for a practical purpose, such as lighting a candle, turning on a gas stove, or starting a campfire.
2.
to set fire to; to commit arson
To deliberately ignite a building, property, or object with destructive or criminal intent.
3.
to spark (enthusiasm, a movement, etc.); to trigger
Used figuratively to describe setting off or igniting enthusiasm, debate, a trend, or other activity, much like lighting a fire metaphorically.
A common expression with three distinct uses: literally lighting a flame, intentionally setting something on fire (criminal context), and figuratively sparking or triggering enthusiasm or activity.
Usage
- Sense 1: 〜に火をつける — the object being lit is marked with に
- Sense 2: 〜に火をつける — the target is marked with に (implies criminal intent)
- Sense 3: 〜に火をつける — the abstract thing being triggered is marked with に
Common collocations
- ろうそくに火をつける: to light a candle
- 導火線に火をつける: to light a fuse
- 議論に火をつける: to spark a debate
- ブームに火をつける: to ignite a trend