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炎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
炎
yán
flame
n, 8 strokes, radical 火, rank #9494, Very Hard
炎
yán
inflammation
n, 8 strokes, radical 火, rank #9494, Very Hard
炎
yán
-itis
n, 8 strokes, radical 火, rank #9494, Very Hard
炎
yán
flame, blaze; hot
n, 8 strokes, radical 火, rank #9494, Very Hard
yán(yan2)yan T2
1flame
2inflammation
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March 24, 2026
炎yán(yan2)
The character '炎' (yán) refers to flame or blaze, often associated with heat or fire. It can also denote inflammation in medical terminology, commonly used in terms like '炎症' (yánzhèng) meaning 'inflammation'. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and specialized contexts, such as medicine.
Strokes8Radical火Frequency#9494DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, '炎' is significant, as it relates to the concept of heat in the body, which can indicate illness or imbalance. Understanding this character can provide insights into health-related discussions in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a blazing flame illustrated by the character '炎', which consists of two '火' (huǒ) characters stacked on top of each other. Picture a fiery scene where the flames are so intense that they create an 'en-yang' (炎) effect, emphasizing heat and intensity.
Meanings of 炎
yán(yan2)
1flame
2inflammation
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 炎 means.
About 炎
炎Simplified
8Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9494Frequency Rank
Podcast: 炎
Podcast: 炎
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AI study notes for 炎
Quick Contrast
炎 (yán) vs 火 (huǒ) — use 炎 for intense heat or inflammation, while 火 refers broadly to fire.
Usage Notes
'炎' is often used in more formal contexts, particularly in medical language. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with '火' (huǒ), which refers more generally to fire. Common collocations include '炎热' (yánrè - hot) and '炎症' (yánzhèng - inflammation). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While '炎' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other HSK words dealing with heat and fire, like '热' (rè - hot) and '火' (huǒ - fire). Focus on practicing its pronunciation and understanding its usage in medical contexts as you expand your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '炎' with '火', leading to incorrect phrases like '炎火' (yán huǒ), which is not standard. The correct usage would be simply '火' for fire, while '炎' is used in specific contexts like inflammation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 炎
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Learning Lab
Knowing 炎 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character '炎' (yán) refers to flame or blaze, often associated with heat or fire. It can also denote inflammation in medical terminology, commonly used in terms like '炎症' (yánzhèng) meaning 'inflammation'. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and specialized contexts, such as medicine.
When to use 炎
'炎' is often used in more formal contexts, particularly in medical language. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with '火' (huǒ), which refers more generally to fire. Common collocations include '炎热' (yánrè - hot) and '炎症' (yánzhèng - inflammation). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
炎 or something close to it
炎 (yán) vs 火 (huǒ) — use 炎 for intense heat or inflammation, while 火 refers broadly to fire.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '炎' with '火', leading to incorrect phrases like '炎火' (yán huǒ), which is not standard. The correct usage would be simply '火' for fire, while '炎' is used in specific contexts like inflammation.
Write 炎
炎
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Practice writing 炎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 炎
炎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这是眼睑边缘红肿发____的症状。
This is an irritation and inflammation of the edge of the eyelid.
Example sentences for 炎 (10)
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1
这是眼睑边缘红肿发炎的症状。
zhè shì yǎn jiǎn biānyuán hóng zhǒng fāyán de zhèngzhuàng。
This is an irritation and inflammation of the edge of the eyelid.
2
关节炎的新疗法可能是止痛药之外的另一种选择。
guānjié yán de xīn liáofǎ kěnéng shì zhǐ tòng yào zhīwài de lìng yī zhǒng xuǎnzé。
New ways to treat arthritis may provide an alternative to painkillers.
3
她担心会得肺炎或支气管炎。
tā dānxīn huì de fèiyán huò zhī qìguǎn yán。
She had feared she was going down with pneumonia or bronchitis.
