HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to cook
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to stew
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to bake
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to roast
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to boil (tea, water etc)
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
fever
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to burn, to bake; to heat, to roast
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
to run a temperature
HSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
烧
shāo
(coll.) to let things go to one's head
HSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1049, Medium
shāo(shao1) T1
1to burn
2to cook
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
烧(燒)shāo(shao1)
The character 烧 (shāo) primarily means 'to burn' and is often used in cooking contexts, such as 'to roast' or 'to boil.' It can also refer to a fever, indicating a high body temperature. In daily usage, it is frequently associated with food preparation methods.
Strokes10Radical火Frequency#1049DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, 烧 refers not only to cooking but also to traditional methods like '烧肉' (roast meat), which are essential in many festive meals. The importance of cooking methods is deeply rooted in Chinese culinary practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef (the radical 火, meaning fire) passionately stirring a pot on the stove, flames flickering as they 'burn' (烧) the ingredients. The pronunciation 'shāo' sounds like 'shout,' as if the chef is shouting out instructions while the food cooks.
Meanings of 烧
shāo(shao1)
1to burn
2to cook
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 烧
烧Simplified
燒Traditional
10Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1049Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 烧
Podcast: 烧
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AI Study Notes for 烧
Quick Contrast
煮 (zhǔ) vs 烧 (shāo): use 烧 when referring to methods involving direct heat or roasting, while 煮 specifically denotes boiling in water.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef (the radical 火, meaning fire) passionately stirring a pot on the stove, flames flickering as they 'burn' (烧) the ingredients. The pronunciation 'shāo' sounds like 'shout,' as if the chef is shouting out instructions while the food cooks.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 烧 with 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'to boil' in a more general sense. 烧 is more specific to methods involving heat and burning, often associated with strong flavors. It is commonly used in informal contexts related to cooking.
HSK Study Tips
Though 烧 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects well with other cooking-related verbs. Students should focus on the various cooking methods and their nuances to enhance their vocabulary around food and cooking.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, 烧 refers not only to cooking but also to traditional methods like '烧肉' (roast meat), which are essential in many festive meals. The importance of cooking methods is deeply rooted in Chinese culinary practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 烧 with 炒 (chǎo), which means 'to stir-fry.' For instance, saying '我烧饭' (I burn rice) instead of '我煮饭' (I cook rice) can lead to misunderstandings. Always consider the appropriate cooking method when using 烧.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烧
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Grammar Patterns of 烧
烧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
...
❝
这是我烧的水。
Zhè shì wǒ shāo de shuǐ.
This is the water I boiled.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
This is the water I boiled.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 烧
烧vs少
shǎo
Phonetically similar, but '少' refers to quantity.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to burn"?
or
Usage Notes for 烧
Confusing '烧' with '煮'Common Error
'烧' (shāo) is often confused with '煮' (zhǔ), which specifically means to boil. Use '烧' for cooking methods involving fire or heat.
1
我烧肉。
I roast meat.
2
我煮水。
I boil water.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我____肉。
I roast meat.
Example Sentences for 烧 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
发电站烧的煤产自鲁尔地区。
fā diàn zhàn shāo de méi chǎn zì lǔ ěr dì qū。
The power stations burn coal from the Ruhr region.
Sara, while remaining outwardly amiable toward all concerned, was inwardly furious.
Cultural Notes for 烧
💡Did you know?
The character 烧 is composed of the fire radical 火 and the phonetic component 召, which relates to the act of calling or invoking heat. This reflects its meaning related to cooking and heating.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, 烧 refers not only to cooking but also to traditional methods like '烧肉' (roast meat), which are essential in many festive meals. The importance of cooking methods is deeply rooted in Chinese culinary practices.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many cultures, cooking methods like roasting and baking are integral to culinary traditions. In Chinese cuisine, 烧 encompasses a range of techniques, from stewing meats to baking pastries, highlighting the diversity of cooking styles.
Word Family of 烧
Words Containing This Character20
烧shāoto burn燒
燃烧ránshāoto ignite燃燒
烧烤shāokǎobarbecue燒烤
烧伤burn (injury)燒傷
烧毁shāohuǐto burn燒燬
发烧fāshāoto have a fever發燒
火烧to set fire to火燒
焚烧fénshāoto burn焚燒
红烧simmer-fried (dish)紅燒
高烧fever高燒
烧饼baked sesame seed-coated cake燒餅
烧香to burn incense燒香
烧酒same as 白酒[báijiǔ]燒酒
烧结to sinter燒結
发烧友fan發燒友
退烧to reduce fever退燒
烧焦to burn燒焦
烧灼to burn燒灼
叉烧char siu叉燒
燃烧弹fire bomb燃燒彈
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 烧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 烧
烧 (shāo) generally refers to methods involving heat that create browning or roasting, while 煮 (zhǔ) specifically means to boil or cook in water. Both terms are essential in Chinese cooking, but they describe different techniques and outcomes.
Yes, 烧 can also refer to burning in a non-cooking context, such as in the phrase '烧纸' (shāo zhǐ), which means 'to burn paper.' This shows its versatility in describing both culinary and non-culinary activities.
烧 (shāo) means to burn, cook, stew, bake, roast, or heat. It is a versatile verb used in various cooking contexts, indicating different methods of preparing food. Understanding how to use this character can enhance your culinary vocabulary in Chinese.
You can use 烧 in sentences like '我在烧水' (Wǒ zài shāo shuǐ), which means 'I am boiling water.' It can also appear in phrases like '烧肉' (shāo ròu), meaning 'roast meat.' Using 烧 correctly can help you express various cooking techniques.
烧 refers specifically to cooking methods involving burning or roasting, while 煮 refers more generally to boiling.
Yes, 烧 can also refer to having a fever, as in '我发烧了' (I have a fever).
While it is commonly used informally, it can also appear in formal culinary discussions.
