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熾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
熾chìto burn, to blaze; splendid; intensex, 16 strokes, radical 火
chì(chi4)chi T4
  1. 1to burn, to blaze; splendid; intense
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March 24, 2026

熾chì(chi4)

The character 熾 (chì) primarily means to burn or blaze, often used to describe a fire that is intense or fiery. It can also convey a sense of splendor or brilliance, particularly in contexts referring to something that is vividly bright or striking.

Strokes16Radical火
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, fire is often associated with transformation and life, making words like 熾 significant when discussing art, nature, or emotions. The vivid imagery of fire is prevalent in Chinese poetry and literature, often symbolizing passion and vitality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, bright fire (火) blazing with intensity, creating a spectacular, radiant glow. The character 熾 has the fire radical (火) on the right, symbolizing burning, while the left part can remind you of a person (or 'I') standing in awe of its splendor.

Meanings of 熾

chì(chi4)
1to burn, to blaze; splendid; intense
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 熾

熾Simplified
16Strokes
火Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 熾

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AI Study Notes for 熾

Quick Contrast

炽 (chì) — use 熾 when emphasizing the intensity of flames or heat, while 炽 is more commonly used in literary contexts to describe something that is fiery or passionate.

Usage Notes

熾 is more formal and is typically used in literary or poetic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters that express warmth or heat; it specifically emphasizes intensity and brilliance. Common collocations include 熾烈 (chìliè), meaning fierce or intense.

HSK Study Tips

While 熾 is not included in the standard HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners to recognize it alongside related terms like 火 (fire) and 烧 (to burn). Focus on the nuances of intensity and the contexts in which you might describe something as 熾.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 熾 with heat-related characters like 热 (rè), assuming they can be used interchangeably. Remember, 熾 focuses on intensity and brilliance, not just warmth.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 熾

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Etymology of 熾

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

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 只 represents the sound. Simplified form of 熾.

Memory Hint

fire

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

Origin

熾 = 火 + 戠. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 熾

IDS Structure⿰火戠
熾Full Character
=
火Huo3
left
戠zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 熾?

How to say to burn, to blaze; splendid; intense in Chinese

“to burn, to blaze; splendid; intense” in Chinese is熾chì

The character 熾 (chì) primarily means to burn or blaze, often used to describe a fire that is intense or fiery. It can also convey a sense of splendor or brilliance, particularly in contexts referring to something that is vividly bright or striking.

When to use 熾

熾 is more formal and is typically used in literary or poetic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar characters that express warmth or heat; it specifically emphasizes intensity and brilliance. Common collocations include 熾烈 (chìliè), meaning fierce or intense.

熾 or something close to it

炽 (chì) — use 熾 when emphasizing the intensity of flames or heat, while 炽 is more commonly used in literary contexts to describe something that is fiery or passionate.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 熾 with heat-related characters like 热 (rè), assuming they can be used interchangeably. Remember, 熾 focuses on intensity and brilliance, not just warmth.

Write 熾

熾

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

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Word Family of 熾

Words Containing This Character6
炽chìto burn熾
炽热red-hot熾熱
炽烈flaming熾烈
白炽灯incandescent light白熾燈
白炽white heat白熾
朱高炽Zhu Gaochi, personal name of fourth Ming emperor Hongxi 洪熙[Hóng​Xī]朱高熾
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 熾

What does 炽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 熾

While both relate to burning, 熾 (chì) emphasizes intense burning or blazing, often with a connotation of splendor, whereas 烧 (shāo) is more general for burning or cooking.

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