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焱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
焱yànfierce flames; conflagrationg, 12 strokes, radical 火
yàn(yan4)yan T4
  1. 1fierce flames; conflagration
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March 24, 2026

焱yàn(yan4)

焱 (yàn) refers to fierce flames or a conflagration, emphasizing the intensity and ferocity of fire. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe a powerful, consuming blaze, and can also denote a variant of the character 焰 (yàn), which specifically means 'flame.'

Strokes12Radical火
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, fire is associated with warmth, celebration, and sometimes destruction, especially during festivals where fireworks and bonfires are common. The character 焱 symbolizes the awe and respect for nature's power, reflecting the duality of fire as both a life-giver and a destroyer.

Memory tip

Imagine a fierce dragon (the radical 火, meaning fire) breathing out intense flames that dance and swirl, creating a fiery spectacle. The pronunciation 'yàn' sounds like 'yawn' – picture a dragon yawning to unleash a fierce firestorm, making the connection between the sound and the vivid imagery of flames.

Meanings of 焱

yàn(yan4)
1fierce flames; conflagration
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 焱

焱Simplified
12Strokes
火Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 焱

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Podcast: 焱

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AI study notes for 焱

Quick Contrast

焰 (yàn) refers specifically to 'flame' and is used for smaller, controlled flames, while 焱 (yàn) emphasizes fierce and intense fire.

Usage Notes

焱 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts and is less common in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with 焰 (yàn), which is more commonly used. Remember to match the tone correctly; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

焱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, so focus on related words like 焰 (yàn) and 火 (huǒ) at HSK levels 3 and 4. Understanding these connections will help reinforce your vocabulary related to fire and flames.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 焱 with the more commonly used 焰 (yàn), mistakenly using 焱 in place of 焰 when describing ordinary flames. Correct usage would be: '焰在烛光中闪烁' (The flame flickers in the candlelight) instead of using 焱.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 焱

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Etymology of 焱

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

Many fires 火 burning

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 焱?

Decomposition of 焱

IDS Structure⿱火⿰火火
焱Full character
=
火Huo3
top
火Huo3
left
火Huo3
right
Exercise 1 of 1

Parts

Which of these is part of 焱?

How to say fierce flames; conflagration in Chinese

“fierce flames; conflagration” in Chinese is焱yàn

焱 (yàn) refers to fierce flames or a conflagration, emphasizing the intensity and ferocity of fire. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe a powerful, consuming blaze, and can also denote a variant of the character 焰 (yàn), which specifically means 'flame.'

When to use 焱

焱 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts and is less common in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with 焰 (yàn), which is more commonly used. Remember to match the tone correctly; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.

焱 or something close to it

焰 (yàn) refers specifically to 'flame' and is used for smaller, controlled flames, while 焱 (yàn) emphasizes fierce and intense fire.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 焱 with the more commonly used 焰 (yàn), mistakenly using 焱 in place of 焰 when describing ordinary flames. Correct usage would be: '焰在烛光中闪烁' (The flame flickers in the candlelight) instead of using 焱.

Write 焱

焱

Practice writing 焱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 焱

Words containing this character1
焱yànflame

Frequently asked questions about 焱

No, 焱 is more often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday speech.

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