烟 (yān) - smoke & mist

烟Tone 1

yān ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

烟 · yān

smoke;

mist;

vapor;

tobacco;

cigarette;

refers to something that is hazy or obscure.

smokemistvapor

Usage highlights

cigarettesmoketobaccosmoke signalkitchen smokemist and clouds

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 火— fire (source of smoke)
  • 清— clear (opposite of hazy)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The chimney emits smoke (烟囱冒烟).
  • Morning mist shrouds the mountains (晨烟笼罩着山).
  • He is trying to quit smoking (他正在努力戒烟).
  • The battlefield was filled with gunpowder smoke (战场硝烟弥漫).

Collocations

  • cigarette(香烟)
  • smoke(烟雾)
  • tobacco(烟草)
  • smoke signal(烽烟)
  • kitchen smoke(炊烟)
  • mist and clouds(烟云)

Idioms

  • Too many cooks spoil the broth(七嘴八舌，烟雾弥漫)
  • Overwhelmed by smoke and fire(烟熏火燎)
  • As if seeing through smoke(如隔烟雾)
  • Vanished without a trace(烟消云散)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, smoke from incense was used in rituals to communicate with deities.
  • Smoke signals (烽烟) were historically used as a military communication method along the Great Wall.
  • The character often appears in poetry to depict misty, ethereal landscapes.

FAQ