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March 24, 2026
烽fēng(feng1)
The character 烽 (fēng) refers to a beacon or signal fire, historically used for communication over long distances, particularly to alert of danger or to convey military messages. It is commonly used in historical contexts or in literature describing ancient China, where beacon fires played a crucial role in defense strategies.
Strokes11Radical火Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, beacon fires were crucial for military communication and were set on high ground to ensure visibility over long distances, reflecting the strategic importance of communication in warfare.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large fire on a mountain top that signals nearby towns of an approaching enemy. The character 烽 looks like a fire (火) on a mountain (山) – both essential for conveying urgent messages. The pronunciation 'fēng' can be remembered as 'firing up the signal' to alert others.
Meanings of 烽
fēng(feng1)
1beacon, signal fire
2beacon fire
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About 烽
烽Simplified
11Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 烽
Podcast: 烽
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AI Study Notes for 烽
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large fire on a mountain top that signals nearby towns of an approaching enemy. The character 烽 looks like a fire (火) on a mountain (山) – both essential for conveying urgent messages. The pronunciation 'fēng' can be remembered as 'firing up the signal' to alert others.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 烽 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may appear more in literary or historical contexts. It is often paired with other words like '烽火' (signal fire) to specify its use. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters, which may have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Though 烽 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding its meaning can enhance your comprehension of historical texts and literature. Focus on recognizing it in context, particularly in readings about ancient military strategies.
Cultural Note
In ancient China, beacon fires were crucial for military communication and were set on high ground to ensure visibility over long distances, reflecting the strategic importance of communication in warfare.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 烽 with other characters that contain the fire radical (火) but have different meanings, such as 烈 (liè), which means 'intense'. Remember that 烽 specifically refers to a beacon or signal fire.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烽
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Cultural Notes for 烽
🏮Cultural insight
In ancient China, beacon fires were crucial for military communication and were set on high ground to ensure visibility over long distances, reflecting the strategic importance of communication in warfare.
Word Family of 烽
Words Containing This Character7
烽烟fire beacon (used as alarm signal over long distance)烽煙
烽火fire beacon (to give alarm)
烽fēngbeacon fire
息烽Xifeng county in Guiyang 貴陽|贵阳[Guìyáng], Guizhou
息烽县Xifeng county in Guiyang 貴陽|贵阳[Guìyáng], Guizhou息烽縣
烽燧fire beacon tower (used in frontier regions in former times to relay information about the enemy, using smoke by day and fire at night)
烽火四起the fire of war in all four directions (idiom); the confusion of war
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 烽烟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 烽
It is pronounced as 'fēng'.
No, it is mainly found in historical texts and literature.
Sure! '古代的烽火台用来传递信息' (The ancient beacon towers were used to convey messages).
