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March 24, 2026
焚fén(fen2)
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.
Strokes12Radical火Frequency#12528DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, burning incense and offerings is a common practice during festivals and ancestor worship. The character 焚 is often seen in discussions of these rituals, emphasizing the importance of fire in spiritual and cultural contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fire (火) consuming a pile of leaves (木). The character 焚 combines the fire radical (火) with a component that resembles a tree. Visualize this scene to remember that 'to burn' relates closely to fire impacting nature.
Meanings of 焚
fén(fen2)
1to burn
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 焚
焚Simplified
12Strokes
火Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 焚
Podcast: 焚
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AI Study Notes for 焚
Quick Contrast
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.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fire (火) consuming a pile of leaves (木). The character 焚 combines the fire radical (火) with a component that resembles a tree. Visualize this scene to remember that 'to burn' relates closely to fire impacting nature.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, burning incense and offerings is a common practice during festivals and ancestor worship. The character 焚 is often seen in discussions of these rituals, emphasizing the importance of fire in spiritual and cultural contexts.
Common Mistakes
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).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 焚
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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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
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)
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1
他们纵火焚烧了停在那幢大楼外的车辆。
tā mén zòng huǒ fén shāo le tíng zài nà chuáng dà lóu wài de chē liàng。
They set fire to vehicles outside that building.
2
相反, 他们一路东撤, 沿途焚毁庄稼和民居.
xiāng fǎn, , tā mén yī lù dōng, chè , yán tú fén huǐ zhuāng jià hé.
Instead, they retreated eastward, burning their crops and homes as they went.
Self - injury, as cutting or burning, can result in scarring and frequent hospitalizations.
Cultural Notes for 焚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, burning incense and offerings is a common practice during festivals and ancestor worship. The character 焚 is often seen in discussions of these rituals, emphasizing the importance of fire in spiritual and cultural contexts.
Word Family of 焚
Words Containing This Character12
焚烧fénshāoto burn焚燒
焚fénto burn
自焚self-immolation
焚毁to burn down焚燬
焚化to cremate
焚香to burn incense
玉石俱焚to burn both jade and common stone
焚书坑儒to burn the Confucian classics and bury alive the Confucian scholars (acts supposedly committed by the first emperor 秦始皇[QínShǐhuáng])焚書坑儒
玩火自焚to get one's fingers burnt
焚风foehn wind (loanword)焚風
焚琴煮鹤lit. to burn zithers and cook cranes焚琴煮鶴
焚膏继晷to burn the midnight oil (idiom); to work continuously night and day焚膏繼晷
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
It's more formal, so you might not hear it in casual settings. It's often found in written texts or specific discussions.
Yes, phrases like '焚香' (fén xiāng) refer to burning incense, especially in religious or ceremonial contexts.
