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熰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
ōusevere droughtx, 15 strokes, radical 火
ōucopious smoke produced by smoldering firewoodunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ōuexceptionally hot weatherunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ōuhalf alightunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ōuto use the smoke of burning wormwood etc to repel insectsunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ǒusevere droughtx, 15 strokes, radical 火
ǒucopious smoke produced by smoldering firewoodunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ǒuexceptionally hot weatherunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ǒuhalf alightunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ǒuto use the smoke of burning wormwood etc to repel insectsunknown, 15 strokes, radical 火
ōu(ou1)
primary
T1
  1. 1severe drought
  2. 2copious smoke produced by smoldering firewood
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March 24, 2026

ōu(ou1)

The character 熰 (ōu) refers to extreme heat conditions, often associated with severe drought or exceptionally hot weather. It can also describe the smoke produced by burning substances, particularly in contexts where the smoke is used to repel insects or other pests.

Strokes15Radical
Cultural Note

In Chinese traditional practices, burning wormwood is a common method to repel insects, especially during summer months when heat and humidity create a breeding ground for pests.

Memory Tip

Imagine a scorching sun (the radical 火 for fire) over a parched landscape, where the air shimmers with heat. The 'ō' sound can be recalled by thinking of 'Oh, it’s hot!' as you fan yourself amid the smoke of burning wormwood, used to keep the bugs away.

Meanings of 熰

ōu(ou1)
primary
1severe drought
2copious smoke produced by smoldering firewood
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 熰

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 熰

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AI Study Notes for 熰

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a scorching sun (the radical 火 for fire) over a parched landscape, where the air shimmers with heat. The 'ō' sound can be recalled by thinking of 'Oh, it’s hot!' as you fan yourself amid the smoke of burning wormwood, used to keep the bugs away.

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Learners may confuse it with similar characters for heat or smoke, so paying attention to context is essential.

HSK Study Tips

While not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding 熰 can enrich your knowledge of characters related to weather and natural phenomena. Students should focus on recognizing its components and related characters that describe heat and smoke.

Cultural Note

In Chinese traditional practices, burning wormwood is a common method to repel insects, especially during summer months when heat and humidity create a breeding ground for pests.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 熰 with 热 (rè), which means 'hot' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我觉得今天熰' is incorrect; it should be '我觉得今天热', as 熰 has a more specific and severe connotation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 熰

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Etymology of 熰

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

fire

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 熰?

Decomposition of 熰

IDS Structure⿰火區
Full Character
=
Huo3
left
qu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 熰?

Write 熰

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

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Cultural Notes for 熰

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese traditional practices, burning wormwood is a common method to repel insects, especially during summer months when heat and humidity create a breeding ground for pests.

Frequently Asked Questions about 熰

It is typically used in literary texts or discussions about extreme weather and natural conditions.

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