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March 24, 2026
煽shān(shan1)
The character 煽 (shān) primarily means to stir up or incite, often relating to emotions or actions. It can describe the act of agitating a situation, provoking a response, or literally fanning a flame. This term is commonly used in contexts of political or social movements where emotions are heightened.
Strokes14Radical火Frequency#12530DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of inciting emotions or actions connects to historical events where leaders have rallied people through passionate speeches. This character often appears in discussions about social movements and protests.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fan (煽) stirring up emotions like a breeze stirring leaves. The character has a fire radical (火) on the left, connecting to the idea of fanning flames, while the right side suggests movement, emphasizing the action of incitement.
Meanings of 煽
shān(shan1)
1to stir up, to incite; to agitate, to provoke
2to fan into a flame
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 煽
煽Simplified
14Strokes
火Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 煽
Podcast: 煽
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AI Study Notes for 煽
Quick Contrast
煽 (shān) vs 激 (jī) — use 煽 when emphasizing incitement or agitation, while 激 focuses more on excitement or stimulation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fan (煽) stirring up emotions like a breeze stirring leaves. The character has a fire radical (火) on the left, connecting to the idea of fanning flames, while the right side suggests movement, emphasizing the action of incitement.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 煽 in formal contexts, as it can carry a negative connotation of manipulation or provocation. Common collocations include 煽动 (shān dòng - to incite) and 煽情 (shān qíng - to stir emotions). Remember that the third tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 煽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other HSK words that involve emotions or actions, such as 动 (dòng - to move) or 激 (jī - to excite). Focus on understanding its connotation in various contexts to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of inciting emotions or actions connects to historical events where leaders have rallied people through passionate speeches. This character often appears in discussions about social movements and protests.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 煽 with similar-sounding words like 闪 (shǎn - to flash), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using 煽 in a context meant for 闪 would be incorrect; ensure you understand the emotional context when using 煽.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 煽
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Grammar Patterns of 煽
煽 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 2 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
Complete the Sentence
她称他的话不负责任、具____动性且极端无礼。
She described his remarks as irresponsible, inflammatory and outrageous.
Example Sentences for 煽 (4)
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1
她称他的话不负责任、具煽动性且极端无礼。
tā chēng tā de huà bù fù zé rèn、 、 jù shān dòng xìng qiě jí duān wú。
She described his remarks as irresponsible, inflammatory and outrageous.
As far as I'm concerned the officials incited the fight.
3
他们说这首歌明目张胆地煽动杀害警察。
tā mén shuō zhè shǒu gē míng mù zhāng dǎn dì shān dòng shā hài jǐng chá。
They said the song blatantly encouraged the killing of policemen.
4
这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂.
zhè piān jīng xīn shè jì de yǎn shuō shān dòng tīng zhòng shǐ tā mén fā kuáng.
The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy.
Cultural Notes for 煽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of inciting emotions or actions connects to historical events where leaders have rallied people through passionate speeches. This character often appears in discussions about social movements and protests.
Word Family of 煽
Words Containing This Character4
煽动shāndòngto incite煽動
煽shānto incite
煽情moving
煽动性provocative煽動性
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 煽动 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 煽
Synonyms include 激动 (jī dòng - to excite) and 煽动 (shān dòng - to incite).
While it can be used positively, such as in motivating speeches, it often has a negative connotation associated with manipulation.
Unlike 激 (jī - to excite), which can have a neutral or positive meaning, 煽 often implies negative incitement or agitation.
