燼 (jìn) - Ashes — the residue left after something has & embers

燼Tone 4

jìn ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

燼 · jìn

Ashes — the residue left after something has been burned;

embers;

also used metaphorically for what remains after destruction.

Ashes — the residue left after something hasembersalso used metaphorically for what remains after destruction.

Usage highlights

AshesEmbersCinderTo burn to ashesAshes of the pastLast remnant

Synonyms

  • 灰— ash; dust
  • 炭— charcoal

Antonyms

  • 火— fire (the active state, as opposed to the residue)
  • 生— life; living (antonym to the finality of ashes)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The fire left only ashes (灰烬).
  • The embers of the campfire glowed (篝火的余烬).
  • He searched for the last remnants of the civilization (文明的烬余).
  • The burnt manuscript was reduced to ash (手稿化为灰烬).

Collocations

  • Ashes(灰烬)
  • Embers(余烬)
  • Cinder(烬块)
  • To burn to ashes(焚为灰烬)
  • Ashes of the past(往事的灰烬)
  • Last remnant(烬余)

Idioms

  • To burn to ashes(玉石同烬)
  • The last ember of a dying fire(死灰复烬)
  • To reduce to cinders(寸草烬余)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often appears in classical literature and poetry to symbolize destruction, transience, or the end of something.
  • Used metaphorically to describe the last vestiges or remnants of a once-great entity, such as a dynasty or civilization.
  • In some contexts, it can carry a philosophical weight related to the Buddhist concept of impermanence.

FAQ