Arson is the crime of setting fire to something on purpose, especially a building — a house, a shop, a school, a warehouse. The important idea is purpose.

Arson is the crime of setting fire to something on purposearson 是故意放火燒東西的罪，especially a building尤其是建築物 — a house, a shop, a school, a warehouse像房子、商店、學校、倉庫。The important idea is purpose重點在於「故意」這件事。

A pan that catches fire while someone is cooking is a fire, not arson. If a person lights it because they want the place to burn — for insurance money, for revenge, or just to destroy — that is arson.

A pan that catches fire while someone is cooking平底鍋在有人煮飯時著火 is a fire, not arson是火災，不是 arson（縱火）。If a person lights it because they want the place to burn如果一個人放火是因為想讓那個地方燒起來 — for insurance money為了保險金，for revenge為了報復，or just to destroy或單純想毀掉它 — that is arson那就是 arson。

Police, news, and courts use the word; it is a legal word and it sounds serious. You would not use it for birthday candles or a campfire.

Police, news, and courts use the word警察、新聞和法院會用這個字；it is a legal word and it sounds serious這是個法律用字，聽起來很嚴重。You would not use it for birthday candles or a campfire你不會拿它來講生日蠟燭或營火。

In the news, “an arson attack” often means someone tried to burn a building in order to frighten or hurt people, not only to damage the walls. Though actually, the law cares about the deliberate fire; the reason may be money, hate, or a wish to hide another crime.

In the news在新聞裡，"an arson attack" often means someone tried to burn a building in order to frighten or hurt people「an arson attack」（縱火攻擊）通常是指有人想燒建築物來恐嚇或傷害人，not only to damage the walls而不只是想損壞牆壁。Though actually不過其實，the law cares about the deliberate fire法律在意的是那把故意放的火；the reason may be money, hate, or a wish to hide another crime原因可能是為了錢、為了恨，或想掩蓋另一件罪行。