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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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)
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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.
Berlin people drank champagne, set off fireworks and tooted their car horns.
7
火焰吞卷着那栋楼.
huǒ yàn tūn juàn zháo nà dòng lóu.
The flames licked against the building.
8
奥!一团会说话的火焰. 我把你带到那个最甜的老奶奶那里去!
ào! ! yī tuán huì shuō huà de huǒ. yàn . wǒ bǎ nǐ dài dào nà gè zuì tián de lǎo nǎi nǎi nà!
ZC Enters the house a fire. But, there underground passage here!
9
火焰最后弱下来,火就灭了.
huǒ yàn zuì hòu ruò xià lái, , huǒ jiù miè.
The flames at last sank down and the fire went out.
10
他刚拨旺炉火,正茫然凝视着火焰,这时有个人闯了进来.
tā gāng bō wàng lú huǒ, , zhèng máng rán níng shì zháo huǒ, yàn , zhè shí yǒu gè rén chuǎng le.
He had just poked up the fire and was staring blankly at the flames when someone burst in.
Cultural Notes for 焰
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 焰
Words Containing This Character9
火焰huǒyànblaze
焰火yànhuǒfireworks
焰yànflame
烈焰raging flames
气焰arrogance氣焰
火焰山Mountain of Flames of legend
凶焰ferocity
嚣张气焰overweening attitude囂張氣焰
放焰口to feed the starving ghosts (i.e. offer sacrifice to protect the departed spirit)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 火焰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 焰
It is pronounced as 'yàn' with a falling tone.
It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than in casual conversation.
Common collocations include '火焰' (huǒ yàn) meaning 'fire flame'.
