to boil sb alive (capital punishment in Imperial China)
v, 11 strokes, radical 灬, rank #37230, Very Hard
烹
pēng
cooking, cuisine; stir-fry
v, 11 strokes, radical 灬, rank #37230, Very Hard
pēng(peng1)peng T1
1cooking method
2to boil sb alive (capital punishment in Imperial China)
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March 24, 2026
烹pēng(peng1)
The character 烹 (pēng) refers to cooking, particularly methods that involve boiling or stir-frying. It can also denote a more traditional or formal approach to cuisine, often associated with elaborate preparation techniques in Chinese cooking. In historical contexts, it has a darker meaning related to capital punishment in Imperial China, where it described a method of execution.
Strokes11Radical灬Frequency#37230DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cooking is highly regarded, often seen as an art form that reflects familial love and social status. The nuances of cooking techniques like 烹 are celebrated in traditional Chinese cuisine, which values both flavor and presentation.
Memory Tip
Think of 烹 as a pot (the top part of the character resembles a pot) filled with boiling water and ingredients, bubbling away as you stir-fry your favorite dish. The sound 'pēng' can remind you of the sizzling sound food makes when it hits a hot pan, helping you connect the pronunciation with the cooking action.
Meanings of 烹
pēng(peng1)
1cooking method
2to boil sb alive (capital punishment in Imperial China)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 烹 means.
About 烹
烹Simplified
11Strokes
灬Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#37230Frequency Rank
Podcast: 烹
Podcast: 烹
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AI Study Notes for 烹
Quick Contrast
煮 (zhǔ) — use 烹 when referring to more elaborate cooking methods, while 煮 is for simple boiling.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; 'pēng' should not be confused with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. While it is commonly used in culinary contexts, it may not be appropriate in very casual conversations. Typical collocations include 烹饪 (pēngrèn), meaning 'cooking' or 'culinary arts'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 烹 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with basic cooking-related terms like 煮 (zhǔ, to boil) and 炒 (chǎo, to stir-fry), which learners at the same level should focus on. Understanding 烹 can enrich vocabulary related to food and cooking methods, broadening your ability to discuss cuisine.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 烹 with 煮 due to similar meanings, using it incorrectly in contexts that require boiling. For example, saying '我想烹面条' (I want to boil noodles) should be corrected to '我想煮面条'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烹
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How Well Do You Know 烹?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 烹 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.
烹 = 灬 + 亨. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 烹
IDS Structure⿱亨灬
烹Full Character
=
亨heng1
top
灬huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 烹?
How to say cooking method in Chinese
“cooking method” in Chinese is烹pēng
The character 烹 (pēng) refers to cooking, particularly methods that involve boiling or stir-frying. It can also denote a more traditional or formal approach to cuisine, often associated with elaborate preparation techniques in Chinese cooking. In historical contexts, it has a darker meaning related to capital punishment in Imperial China, where it described a method of execution.
When to use 烹
Be careful with the tone; 'pēng' should not be confused with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. While it is commonly used in culinary contexts, it may not be appropriate in very casual conversations. Typical collocations include 烹饪 (pēngrèn), meaning 'cooking' or 'culinary arts'.
烹 or something close to it
煮 (zhǔ) — use 烹 when referring to more elaborate cooking methods, while 煮 is for simple boiling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 烹 with 煮 due to similar meanings, using it incorrectly in contexts that require boiling. For example, saying '我想烹面条' (I want to boil noodles) should be corrected to '我想煮面条'.
Write 烹
烹
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Practice writing 烹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 烹
烹 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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.
____饪课既是一件严肃的事又是一种享受。
The cookery course was serious and hedonistic at the same time.
Example Sentences for 烹 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
烹饪课既是一件严肃的事又是一种享受。
pēng rèn kè jì shì yī jiàn yán sù de shì yòu shì yī zhǒng xiǎng shòu。
The cookery course was serious and hedonistic at the same time.
