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March 24, 2026
焰yàn(yan4)
焰 (yàn) refers to a flame or blaze, often associated with fire and heat. It is commonly used in contexts discussing fire, cooking, or anything that emits light and heat, such as candles or fireworks. The character emphasizes the lively, flickering nature of flames.
Strokes12Radical火Frequency#39760DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flames are often associated with festivals and celebrations, such as lantern festivals where the beauty of fire is showcased. The concept of fire also has deep connections to traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, symbolizing energy and purification.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright, dancing flame (焰) that is 'yawning' (sounds like 'yàn') in the night, inviting you to warm your hands. The character is composed of the fire radical (火) on the bottom, emphasizing its fiery nature, and a component that suggests movement, much like the flickering of flames.
Meanings of 焰
yàn(yan4)
1flame
2flame, blaze; glowing, blazing
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 焰 means.
About 焰
焰Simplified
12Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#39760Frequency Rank
Podcast: 焰
Podcast: 焰
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AI Study Notes for 焰
Quick Contrast
火 (huǒ) refers to fire in a broader sense, while 焰 (yàn) specifically denotes the flame or blaze, emphasizing its flickering nature.
Usage Notes
焰 is typically used in more literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (yàn), which can be confused with the rising tone of 'yan' (言) meaning speech. Common collocations include '火焰' (huǒ yàn) meaning 'fire flame'.
HSK Study Tips
焰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to fire-related terms. Focus on connecting it with related characters like 火 (huǒ, fire) and 烟 (yān, smoke) to build a thematic understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 焰 with 烟 (yān, smoke) due to similar sounds and contexts. For example, saying '我看到烟' (I saw the flame) is incorrect; it should be '我看到焰'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 焰
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How Well Do You Know 焰?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 焰 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.
焰 = 火 + 臽. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 焰
IDS Structure⿰火臽
焰Full Character
=
火Huo3
left
臽xian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 焰?
How to say flame in Chinese
“flame” in Chinese is焰yàn
焰 (yàn) refers to a flame or blaze, often associated with fire and heat. It is commonly used in contexts discussing fire, cooking, or anything that emits light and heat, such as candles or fireworks. The character emphasizes the lively, flickering nature of flames.
When to use 焰
焰 is typically used in more literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (yàn), which can be confused with the rising tone of 'yan' (言) meaning speech. Common collocations include '火焰' (huǒ yàn) meaning 'fire flame'.
焰 or something close to it
火 (huǒ) refers to fire in a broader sense, while 焰 (yàn) specifically denotes the flame or blaze, emphasizing its flickering nature.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 焰 with 烟 (yān, smoke) due to similar sounds and contexts. For example, saying '我看到烟' (I saw the flame) is incorrect; it should be '我看到焰'.
Write 焰
焰
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Practice writing 焰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 焰
焰 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这个晚上最让人高兴的就是精彩的____火表演。
The most pleasurable experience of the evening was the wonderful fireworks display.
Example Sentences for 焰 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这个晚上最让人高兴的就是精彩的焰火表演。
zhè gè wǎn shàng zuì ràng rén gāo xīng de jiù shì jīng cǎi de yàn huǒ biǎo yǎn。
The most pleasurable experience of the evening was the wonderful fireworks display.
