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抽烟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
抽烟chōuyānto smoke (a cigarette, tobacco)HSK 4, v, rank #2645, Medium
chōuyān(chou1yan1) T1
  1. 1to smoke (a cigarette, tobacco)
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March 24, 2026
抽烟(抽煙)chōuyān(chou1yan1)

抽烟 refers to the act of smoking cigarettes or tobacco. It is commonly used in both casual conversations and formal discussions about health and lifestyle choices. The term carries a negative connotation in many contexts due to health concerns associated with smoking.

Frequency#2645DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, particularly among men, and is often associated with social gatherings. However, there is a growing awareness of the health risks, leading to increased anti-smoking campaigns and public spaces being designated as smoke-free.

Memory Tip

Think of 抽 as 'pulling' or 'drawing' and 烟 as 'smoke'. Imagine pulling on a cigarette and drawing in the smoke. The pronunciation 'chou' sounds like 'chew', but instead, you're pulling in smoke, which can help you remember the act of smoking.

Meanings of 抽烟

chōuyān(chou1yan1)
1to smoke (a cigarette, tobacco)
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About 抽烟

抽烟Simplified
抽煙Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2645Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 抽烟

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Podcast: 抽烟

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AI Study Notes for 抽烟

Quick Contrast

吸烟 (xīyān) — use 抽烟 when emphasizing the action of smoking a cigarette, while 吸烟 is more general and can refer to inhaling smoke from any source.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 抽 as 'pulling' or 'drawing' and 烟 as 'smoke'. Imagine pulling on a cigarette and drawing in the smoke. The pronunciation 'chou' sounds like 'chew', but instead, you're pulling in smoke, which can help you remember the act of smoking.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 抽烟, as it can be seen as informal. Common mistakes include confusing it with 吸烟 (xīyān), which is more formal. Note that you might hear phrases like '我抽烟' (I smoke) in casual settings.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 4 word, 抽烟 connects with other verbs related to actions or habits. Focus on using it in sentences about health or lifestyle, which will help reinforce your vocabulary related to personal choices.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, particularly among men, and is often associated with social gatherings. However, there is a growing awareness of the health risks, leading to increased anti-smoking campaigns and public spaces being designated as smoke-free.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 抽烟 with 吸烟, leading to incorrect usage in formal contexts. For example, saying '我吸烟' in an informal setting can sound overly stiff; instead, '我抽烟' is more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 抽烟

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Component Characters

抽chōuto draw out
HSK 58 strokes扌
View full entry
烟yāncigarette or pipe tobacco
HSK 410 strokes火
View full entry

Write 抽烟

抽
烟

Practice writing 抽烟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 抽烟

抽烟 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. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他不____了。

He doesn't smoke anymore.

Example Sentences for 抽烟 (10)

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1
我可以抽烟吗？

wǒ kě yǐ chōu yān ma？

Do you think it would be all right if I smoked?
2
地方法规将规定在公共场合抽烟为非法。

dì fāng fǎ guī jiāng guī dìng zài gōng gòng cháng hé chōu yān wéi fēi fǎ。

By-laws are to make it illegal to smoke in public.
3
如果抽烟，整个呼吸系统就会一直受到损害。

rú guǒ chōu yān， ， zhěng gè hū xī xì tǒng jiù huì yī zhí shòu dào sǔn。

If you smoke then the whole respiratory system is constantly under attack.
4
杰克逊说她的老板情绪越来越低落，又开始拼命抽烟了。

jié kè xùn shuō tā de lǎo bǎn qíng xù yuè lái yuè dī luò， ， yòu kāi shǐ pīn mìng chōu yān。

Jackson said her boss became increasingly depressed and reverted to smoking heavily.
5
有人可能认为抽烟从本质上说就具有成瘾性。

yǒu rén kě néng rèn wéi chōu yān cóng běn zhì shàng shuō jiù jù yǒu chéng yǐn xìng。

One could argue that smoking, by its very nature, is addictive.
6
“伙计们，我想你们不介意我抽烟吧？”他拉长音调说。

“ “ huǒ jì， mén ， wǒ xiǎng nǐ mén bù jiè yì wǒ chōu？” yān bā ？” tā lā cháng。

"I guess you guys don't mind if I smoke?" he drawled.
7
阿卜杜勒动辄责骂他抽烟太凶。

ā bǔ dù lè dòng zhé zé mà tā chōu yān tài xiōng。

Abdel felt free to tick him off for smoking too much.
8
不相信抽烟能上瘾的人肯定不是老烟民。

bù xiāng xìn chōu yān néng shàng yǐn de rén kěn dìng bù shì lǎo yān mín。

Anyone who does not believe that smoking is an addiction has never been a chronic smoker.
9
多数烟民从十几岁时就开始抽烟了。

duō shù yān mín cóng shí jī suì shí jiù kāi shǐ chōu yān le。

Most people who smoke began smoking in their teens.
10
有人劝他少抽烟、少喝啤酒。

yǒu rén quàn tā shǎo chōu yān、 、 shǎo hē pí。

He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Do you think it would be all right if I smoked?

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Cultural Notes for 抽烟

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, particularly among men, and is often associated with social gatherings. However, there is a growing awareness of the health risks, leading to increased anti-smoking campaigns and public spaces being designated as smoke-free.

Frequently Asked Questions about 抽烟

No, while both mean 'to smoke', 抽烟 is more casual, often used in everyday conversation, whereas 吸烟 is more formal.