Mandarin TempleMandarin TempleCome for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
烀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
烀hūto simmer, to cook over a slow firev, 9 strokes, radical 火
烀hūto cook in a small quantity of waterunknown, 9 strokes, radical 火
hū(hu1)hu T1
  1. 1to simmer, to cook over a slow fire
  2. 2to cook in a small quantity of water
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

烀hū(hu1)

The character 烀 (hū) refers to the method of cooking food slowly over a low flame or simmering it in a small amount of water. This technique helps to enhance the flavor of the ingredients while ensuring they are cooked thoroughly without burning. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese cooking for soups and stews.

Strokes9Radical火
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, the method of slow cooking or simmering is essential for dishes like traditional herbal soups, where the flavors need time to develop. This practice reflects the cultural emphasis on patience and the art of cooking.

Memory tip

Imagine a pot simmering gently on a stove, the steam rising like a soft cloud. The character 烀 resembles a pot (the bottom part) with steam coming out (the top part), reminding you of the slow cooking process that creates flavorful dishes. The 'hū' sound can be associated with the gentle 'hush' of simmering water.

Meanings of 烀

hū(hu1)
1to simmer, to cook over a slow fire
2to cook in a small quantity of water
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 烀 means.

About 烀

烀Simplified
9Strokes
火Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 烀

JasonAmy

Podcast: 烀

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 烀

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 烀 with similar cooking terms like 煮 (zhǔ), which means to boil. 烀 is used specifically for slow cooking or simmering. It is more common in informal contexts among home cooks rather than in formal culinary literature.

HSK Study Tips

While 烀 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to HSK 2 cooking terms like 煮 (zhǔ) and 炒 (chǎo). Students should focus on understanding the different methods of cooking in Mandarin and practice using them in sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 烀 with 煮 and use them interchangeably, saying '我想烀水' (I want to simmer water) when they should say '我想煮水' (I want to boil water). Remember, 烀 is for simmering, not boiling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 烀

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 烀 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 烀 to you

Let me explain 烀 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 烀 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 烀?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 烀 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 烀

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

fire

Semantic (meaning)火
+
Phonetic (sound)乎
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

烀 = 火 + 乎. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 烀

IDS Structure⿰火乎
烀Full character
=
火Huo3
left
乎hu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 烀?

How to say to simmer, to cook over a slow fire in Chinese

“to simmer, to cook over a slow fire” in Chinese is烀hū

The character 烀 (hū) refers to the method of cooking food slowly over a low flame or simmering it in a small amount of water. This technique helps to enhance the flavor of the ingredients while ensuring they are cooked thoroughly without burning. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese cooking for soups and stews.

When to use 烀

Be cautious not to confuse 烀 with similar cooking terms like 煮 (zhǔ), which means to boil. 烀 is used specifically for slow cooking or simmering. It is more common in informal contexts among home cooks rather than in formal culinary literature.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 烀 with 煮 and use them interchangeably, saying '我想烀水' (I want to simmer water) when they should say '我想煮水' (I want to boil water). Remember, 烀 is for simmering, not boiling.

Write 烀

烀

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 烀?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 烀

Words containing this character1
烀hūto cook in a small quantity of water

Frequently asked questions about 烀

烀 refers to simmering or slow cooking, while 煮 specifically means to boil. They are both cooking methods but vary in heat intensity.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 烀?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab