火種

ひだね
live coals (for firelighting)
remains of fire

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ひだね【火種】

*spark

〖C〗 ［比喩的に］ 呼び水， 火種

*cause

〖C〗原因.

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ひだね【火種】

1 〔火鉢や炉などの〕 kindling [live] charcoal [coal] to start a fire; 〔火事･爆発などの〕 the cause of a fire [explosion]; an incendiary (agent); an incendiary spark.

●(炉の)火種が尽きる have the kindling coals (in the hearth) go out

・火鉢に火種がなくなった. There is no live charcoal left in the hibachi to build [make] a fire with.

●火種を絶やさないようにする keep the kindling coals going [burning, from going out].

●たばこが火種となってガスが爆発した. Triggered by a cigarette, the gas exploded.

2 〔争いの原因〕 the cause of a conflict [dispute].

●これは新たな地域紛争の火種になりかねない. This could well trigger another regional dispute.

●その島の帰属をめぐり両国は新たな火種を抱えるに至った. In the dispute over the return of the islands, both countries wound up with an armful of hot coals.