Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
炊chuī(chui1)
The character 炊 (chuī) primarily refers to the act of cooking, particularly in the context of preparing food through methods such as steaming or boiling. It can also represent a meal itself, emphasizing the preparation aspect of food. This term is often used in both everyday conversation and culinary contexts.
Strokes8Radical火Frequency#72654DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, meal preparation is often seen as a communal activity, and the term 炊 reflects the importance of cooking in family gatherings and celebrations. Cooking techniques passed down through generations are highly valued.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef blowing gently (chuī sounds like 'chew') on a pot of steaming food. The steam rising represents the cooking process, and the character 炊 looks like a pot over a flame, emphasizing the act of cooking.
Meanings of 炊
chuī(chui1)
1to cook food
2meal; to cook, to steam
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 炊
炊Simplified
8Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 炊
Podcast: 炊
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 炊
Quick Contrast
煮 (zhǔ) vs 炖 (dùn) — use 炊 for general cooking or meal preparation, while 煮 specifically refers to boiling food, and 炖 implies slow-cooking or stewing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef blowing gently (chuī sounds like 'chew') on a pot of steaming food. The steam rising represents the cooking process, and the character 炊 looks like a pot over a flame, emphasizing the act of cooking.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 炊 (chuī) with other cooking-related terms like 煮 (zhǔ), which means to boil. The tone is crucial; a wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 炊饭 (chuī fàn - to cook rice) and 炊事 (chuī shì - cooking affairs).
HSK Study Tips
While 炊 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other cooking-related terms like 煮 (boil) and 炒 (stir-fry) that are essential for HSK level 3 and beyond. Focus on the context of cooking to enhance vocabulary retention.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, meal preparation is often seen as a communal activity, and the term 炊 reflects the importance of cooking in family gatherings and celebrations. Cooking techniques passed down through generations are highly valued.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 炊 in contexts where 煮 or 炒 would be more appropriate, like saying 炊水 (chuī shuǐ) instead of 煮水 (zhǔ shuǐ) for boiling water. Pay attention to the specific cooking methods to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 炊
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 炊 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 炊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 炊
炊 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 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 2
Complete the Sentence
____烟旋绕.
A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.
Example Sentences for 炊 (1)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
炊烟旋绕.
chuī yān xuán rào.
A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 炊
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, meal preparation is often seen as a communal activity, and the term 炊 reflects the importance of cooking in family gatherings and celebrations. Cooking techniques passed down through generations are highly valued.
Word Family of 炊
Words Containing This Character7
炊事cooking
炊具cookware
炊chuīto cook food
炊烟chuīyānsmoke from kitchen chimneys炊煙
炊事员cook炊事員
巧妇难为无米之炊The cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice (idiom); You won't get anywhere without equipment.巧婦難為無米之炊
炊帚pot-scrubbing brush, made from bamboo strips
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 炊事 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 炊
炊 (chuī) refers to the act of cooking, often with steaming, while 煮 (zhǔ) specifically means to boil.
Yes, 炊 can be applied to various cooking methods, but it is most commonly associated with rice and other staple foods.
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in casual conversations about cooking.
