熶Tone 4

cuàn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

熶 · cuàn

To burn;

to kindle;

to set fire to;

to ignite.

To burnto kindleto set fire to

Usage highlights

to kindle fireto igniteto burnto light upto set ablazefire kindling

Synonyms

燃— to burn, to ignite
烧— to burn, to cook
点— to light, to kindle

Antonyms

灭— to extinguish, to put out
熄— to extinguish, to go out

Usage & contexts

Examples

The bonfire was kindled (熶火) for the festival.
He used a match to ignite (熶着) the candle.
The dry grass caught fire easily (熶燃).
They lit (熶起) the ceremonial torch.

Collocations

to kindle fire(熶火)
to ignite(熶着)
to burn(熶燃)
to light up(熶起)
to set ablaze(熶烧)
fire kindling(熶薪)

Idioms

To add fuel to the fire(火上熶油)
Burning with anxiety(心急如熶)
To fan the flames(煽风熶火)

Cultural background

This character represents the action of starting a fire, which has both practical and ceremonial significance in Chinese culture.
Fire has been central to Chinese civilization for cooking, warmth, and ritual purposes since ancient times.
In traditional Chinese philosophy, fire represents one of the five elements and is associated with yang energy, summer, and the south direction.

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