Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
焱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
焱yànfierce flames; conflagrationg, 12 strokes, radical 火
yàn(yan4) T4
  1. 1fierce flames; conflagration
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

焱yàn(yan4)

焱 (yàn) refers to fierce flames or a conflagration, emphasizing the intensity and ferocity of fire. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe a powerful, consuming blaze, and can also denote a variant of the character 焰 (yàn), which specifically means 'flame.'

Strokes12Radical火
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, fire is associated with warmth, celebration, and sometimes destruction, especially during festivals where fireworks and bonfires are common. The character 焱 symbolizes the awe and respect for nature's power, reflecting the duality of fire as both a life-giver and a destroyer.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce dragon (the radical 火, meaning fire) breathing out intense flames that dance and swirl, creating a fiery spectacle. The pronunciation 'yàn' sounds like 'yawn' – picture a dragon yawning to unleash a fierce firestorm, making the connection between the sound and the vivid imagery of flames.

Meanings of 焱

yàn(yan4)
1fierce flames; conflagration
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 焱

焱Simplified
12Strokes
火Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 焱

JasonAmy

Podcast: 焱

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 焱

Quick Contrast

焰 (yàn) refers specifically to 'flame' and is used for smaller, controlled flames, while 焱 (yàn) emphasizes fierce and intense fire.

Usage Notes

焱 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts and is less common in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with 焰 (yàn), which is more commonly used. Remember to match the tone correctly; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

焱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, so focus on related words like 焰 (yàn) and 火 (huǒ) at HSK levels 3 and 4. Understanding these connections will help reinforce your vocabulary related to fire and flames.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 焱 with the more commonly used 焰 (yàn), mistakenly using 焱 in place of 焰 when describing ordinary flames. Correct usage would be: '焰在烛光中闪烁' (The flame flickers in the candlelight) instead of using 焱.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 焱

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

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

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 焱

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Many fires 火 burning

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 焱

  1. 1The giveawayMany fires 火 burning
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 焱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 焱?

Decomposition of 焱

IDS Structure⿱火⿰火火
焱Full Character
=
火Huo3
top
火Huo3
left
火Huo3
right
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 焱?

How to say fierce flames; conflagration in Chinese

“fierce flames; conflagration” in Chinese is焱yàn

焱 (yàn) refers to fierce flames or a conflagration, emphasizing the intensity and ferocity of fire. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe a powerful, consuming blaze, and can also denote a variant of the character 焰 (yàn), which specifically means 'flame.'

When to use 焱

焱 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts and is less common in everyday conversation. Learners might confuse it with 焰 (yàn), which is more commonly used. Remember to match the tone correctly; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone.

焱 or something close to it

焰 (yàn) refers specifically to 'flame' and is used for smaller, controlled flames, while 焱 (yàn) emphasizes fierce and intense fire.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 焱 with the more commonly used 焰 (yàn), mistakenly using 焱 in place of 焰 when describing ordinary flames. Correct usage would be: '焰在烛光中闪烁' (The flame flickers in the candlelight) instead of using 焱.

Write 焱

焱

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 焱

Words Containing This Character1
焱yànflame
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 焱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 焱

No, 焱 is more often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday speech.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 焱?

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.