Meanings of 焚
By ear
Play it, then pick what 焚 means.
About 焚
Podcast: 焚
Podcast: 焚
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 焚
焚 (fén, to burn) vs 烧 (shāo, to cook/burn) — use 焚 for intentional burning, often with a ritual or destructive connotation, while 烧 is more general and can refer to cooking or heating.
Be careful not to confuse 焚 with similar characters like 烧 (shāo), which also means 'to burn' but often implies cooking or heating. 焚 is more formal and typically used in written Chinese or specific contexts like literature or legal terms.
Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners at HSK 4-5 can benefit from understanding this character as it relates to fire (火) and can connect to words like 烧 (shāo) and 灭 (miè), which means 'to extinguish'. Focus on context and usage in phrases.
Learners often misuse 焚 in casual conversation, opting for 烧 instead, which is more appropriate for informal contexts. For example, saying '我想焚这个食物' (wǒ xiǎng fén zhège shíwù) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想烧这个食物' (wǒ xiǎng shāo zhège shíwù).
Pronunciation of 焚
Drill the tone of 焚 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 焚 to You
Let me explain 焚 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 焚 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 焚?
Learning Lab
Knowing 焚 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
Etymology of 焚
Setting fire 火 to a forest 林
Origin
What kind of character is 焚?
Decomposition of 焚
Parts
Which of these is part of 焚?
How to say to burn in Chinese
“to burn” in Chinese is焚
The character 焚 (fén) specifically means 'to burn' and is often used in contexts related to fire or destruction through burning. It can refer to the act of incinerating something intentionally, such as burning waste or offerings in rituals.
When to use 焚
Be careful not to confuse 焚 with similar characters like 烧 (shāo), which also means 'to burn' but often implies cooking or heating. 焚 is more formal and typically used in written Chinese or specific contexts like literature or legal terms.
焚 or something close to it
焚 (fén, to burn) vs 烧 (shāo, to cook/burn) — use 焚 for intentional burning, often with a ritual or destructive connotation, while 烧 is more general and can refer to cooking or heating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 焚 in casual conversation, opting for 烧 instead, which is more appropriate for informal contexts. For example, saying '我想焚这个食物' (wǒ xiǎng fén zhège shíwù) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想烧这个食物' (wǒ xiǎng shāo zhège shíwù).
Write 焚
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 焚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 焚
焚 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. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们纵火____烧了停在那幢大楼外的车辆。
They set fire to vehicles outside that building.
Example Sentences for 焚 (6)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 焚?
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 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 焚
Words with 焚
What does 焚烧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 焚
焚 (fén) is used for burning in a more destructive sense, often in formal contexts, while 烧 (shāo) is commonly used for cooking or heating.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 焚?
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.