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炊烟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
炊烟chuīyānsmoke from kitchen chimneysHSK 7, n, rank #59617, Very Hard
chuīyān(chui1yan1) T1
  1. 1smoke from kitchen chimneys
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March 24, 2026
炊烟(炊煙)chuīyān(chui1yan1)

炊烟 refers to the smoke that rises from kitchen chimneys, particularly in rural or traditional settings where meals are cooked over open flames. This term evokes a sense of home and warmth, often associated with the act of cooking and family gatherings.

Frequency#59617DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the sight of 炊烟 rising from a home is often romanticized in literature and art, symbolizing hospitality and the warmth of family life. It also reflects the traditional cooking methods that are still prevalent in many rural areas.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cozy cottage where the aroma of food wafts through the air, and you can see the 'smoke' (烟) curling upwards from the chimney (炊). The sound 'chui' sounds like 'chew,' reminding you of the food being prepared, which creates the smoke.

Meanings of 炊烟

chuīyān(chui1yan1)
1smoke from kitchen chimneys
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 炊烟

炊烟Simplified
炊煙Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#59617Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 炊烟

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Podcast: 炊烟

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AI Study Notes for 炊烟

Quick Contrast

炊烟 (smoke from cooking) vs 烟 (smoke) — use 炊烟 when specifically referring to cooking-related smoke, while 烟 is a general term for any kind of smoke.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a cozy cottage where the aroma of food wafts through the air, and you can see the 'smoke' (烟) curling upwards from the chimney (炊). The sound 'chui' sounds like 'chew,' reminding you of the food being prepared, which creates the smoke.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 炊烟 with other types of smoke, such as 烟雾 (yān wù), which refers to smoke or mist in a more general sense. This term is typically used in informal contexts, often in poetry or descriptive narratives rather than in technical discussions.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 炊烟 connects well with other vocabulary related to cooking and home life, such as 烹饪 (pēng rèn, cooking) and 家 (jiā, home). Focus on using它 in descriptive contexts to enhance your storytelling skills.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the sight of 炊烟 rising from a home is often romanticized in literature and art, symbolizing hospitality and the warmth of family life. It also reflects the traditional cooking methods that are still prevalent in many rural areas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 炊烟 with other smoke-related words, such as 烟 (yān) or 烟雾 (yān wù). Always remember that 炊烟 specifically relates to the smoke from cooking, not smoke from fires or pollution.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 炊烟

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Component Characters

chuīto cook food
8 strokes
View full entry
yāncigarette or pipe tobacco
HSK 410 strokes
View full entry

Write 炊烟

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

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Grammar Patterns of 炊烟

炊烟 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____旋绕.

A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.

Example Sentences for 炊烟 (1)

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1
炊烟旋绕.

chuī yān xuán rào.

A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

A wisp of smoke is curling up from a chimney.

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Cultural Notes for 炊烟

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the sight of 炊烟 rising from a home is often romanticized in literature and art, symbolizing hospitality and the warmth of family life. It also reflects the traditional cooking methods that are still prevalent in many rural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions about 炊烟

炊烟 specifically refers to smoke from cooking, while other terms like 烟雾 can refer to smoke from various sources.