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燅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
燅xiánto reheat foodx, 16 strokes, radical 火
xián(xian2)xian T2
  1. 1to reheat food
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March 24, 2026

燅xián(xian2)

The character 燅 (xián) refers to the action of reheating food, particularly using a fire or heat source. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing the preparation of meals or warming up leftovers. The nuance of this character emphasizes the process of returning food to a desirable temperature for consumption.

Strokes16Radical火
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reheating food is common due to the frequent practice of making large meals that are consumed over several days. The concept of enjoying warm food ties into the cultural importance of hospitality and family meals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef with a giant fire (the radical 火) reheating a delicious meal (the character 燅) to make it perfect for serving. The 'xián' sound can be remembered by picturing 'sizzling' food as it reheats, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Meanings of 燅

xián(xian2)
1to reheat food
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 燅

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

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Podcast: 燅

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AI Study Notes for 燅

Usage Notes

This character is often used in everyday conversation but may not be recognized in formal writing as much. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 'reheat leftovers' or 'reheat soup'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 燅 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it provides an opportunity for learners to expand their culinary vocabulary. Students should focus on related terms such as 加热 (jiārè - to heat up) and 温暖 (wēnnuǎn - to warm). Understanding these connections can enhance comprehension of food-related discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 燅 with other heating-related characters, such as 热 (rè - hot) or 加 (jiā - to add), leading to incorrect phrases like '我想加这个菜' (I want to add this dish) instead of using 燅. Always ensure to use 燅 specifically for reheating contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 燅

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Etymology of 燅

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

hot

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

Origin

燅 = 炎 + 坴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 燅

IDS Structure⿰坴炎
燅Full Character
=
坴lu4
left
炎yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 燅?

How to say to reheat food in Chinese

“to reheat food” in Chinese is燅xián

The character 燅 (xián) refers to the action of reheating food, particularly using a fire or heat source. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing the preparation of meals or warming up leftovers. The nuance of this character emphasizes the process of returning food to a desirable temperature for consumption.

When to use 燅

This character is often used in everyday conversation but may not be recognized in formal writing as much. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 'reheat leftovers' or 'reheat soup'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 燅 with other heating-related characters, such as 热 (rè - hot) or 加 (jiā - to add), leading to incorrect phrases like '我想加这个菜' (I want to add this dish) instead of using 燅. Always ensure to use 燅 specifically for reheating contexts.

Write 燅

燅

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 燅

You can say '我想把这个菜燅一下' (I want to reheat this dish).

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