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March 24, 2026
菸yān(yan1)
The character 菸 (yān) primarily refers to tobacco or dried leaves, often used in the context of smoking or cigarettes. It can also convey the idea of something that has faded or withered, relating to both plants and colors. This character is a variant of 煙 (yān), which directly means smoke, highlighting its connection to the act of smoking.
Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#16929DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Smoking has a complex cultural significance in China, where traditional tobacco use has deep historical roots. The character 菸 often appears in discussions about health policies and smoking regulations in modern Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaf (the radical '艹') with a cigarette (菸) resting on it, representing the dried leaves used for tobacco. The sound 'yān' can remind you of 'yawn,' as in the way smoke can make you feel drowsy or sleepy.
Meanings of 菸
yān(yan1)
primary
1tobacco, dried leaves; to fade
2to wither
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 菸
菸Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 菸
Podcast: 菸
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AI Study Notes for 菸
Quick Contrast
菸 (tobacco) vs 煙 (smoke) — use 菸 when referring specifically to tobacco or dried leaves, while 煙 denotes the smoke produced from burning.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leaf (the radical '艹') with a cigarette (菸) resting on it, representing the dried leaves used for tobacco. The sound 'yān' can remind you of 'yawn,' as in the way smoke can make you feel drowsy or sleepy.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 菸 with 煙 (yān), which specifically means smoke, not the dried leaves. While 菸 is more formal and often used in written contexts, 煙 is more commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as the tones can change the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 菸 is not included in the HSK list, it connects with vocabulary related to health and substances. Students should focus on understanding its usage in the context of smoking and health discussions, which often appear in levels A2 and B1.
Cultural Note
Smoking has a complex cultural significance in China, where traditional tobacco use has deep historical roots. The character 菸 often appears in discussions about health policies and smoking regulations in modern Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 菸 with 煙 due to their similar pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我喜欢菸' (wǒ xǐhuān yān) to mean 'I like smoke' is incorrect; the correct word for smoke is 煙.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 菸
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Cultural Notes for 菸
🏮Cultural insight
Smoking has a complex cultural significance in China, where traditional tobacco use has deep historical roots. The character 菸 often appears in discussions about health policies and smoking regulations in modern Chinese society.
Word Family of 菸
Words Containing This Character1
菸yāncigarette
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 菸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 菸
菸 refers to tobacco or dried leaves, while 煙 specifically means smoke.
Yes, 菸 is more commonly found in formal or literary contexts compared to 煙.
While its primary meaning is tobacco, it can also describe other dried plants that may be smoked.
