HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
smoke
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
mist
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
vapour
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
>缕[lǚ]
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
tobacco plant
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
(of the eyes) to be irritated by smoke
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
烟
yān
smoke, soot; opium; tobacco, cigarettes
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 火, rank #1874, Medium
yān(yan1) T1
1cigarette or pipe tobacco
2smoke
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March 24, 2026
烟(煙)yān(yan1)
The character 烟 (yān) primarily refers to smoke, particularly that produced by burning substances like tobacco. It can also denote cigarettes or pipe tobacco and is often used in contexts related to air pollution or environmental discussions about smoke and vapors.
Strokes10Radical火Frequency#1874DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, and discussions about tobacco often intersect with social practices and health awareness campaigns, reflecting the duality of tradition and modern health concerns.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'yawn' (sounds like yān) that releases a cloud of smoke when you breathe out. The character 烟 has a component resembling fire (火) at the bottom, symbolizing the burning that creates smoke.
Meanings of 烟
yān(yan1)
1cigarette or pipe tobacco
2smoke
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 烟
烟Simplified
煙Traditional
10Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1874Frequency Rank
根Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 烟
Podcast: 烟
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AI Study Notes for 烟
Quick Contrast
烟 (smoke) vs 蒸汽 (steam) — use 烟 when referring to smoke from burning, while 蒸汽 specifically refers to vapor produced by boiling water.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'yawn' (sounds like yān) that releases a cloud of smoke when you breathe out. The character 烟 has a component resembling fire (火) at the bottom, symbolizing the burning that creates smoke.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 烟 with the character 煙 (yān), which is a variant form; both mean smoke, but 煙 is less frequently used in modern contexts. In formal writing, 烟 is preferred, while in casual conversations, it might be more relaxed.
HSK Study Tips
While 烟 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it connects with Level 2 and 3 vocabulary related to health and environment. Students should focus on its usage in everyday conversations about smoking or air quality.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, and discussions about tobacco often intersect with social practices and health awareness campaigns, reflecting the duality of tradition and modern health concerns.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly pronounce 烟 as 'yān' with a neutral tone instead of the correct rising tone. Additionally, they might confuse it with other similar characters like 煙, which can lead to misunderstanding in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烟
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Grammar Patterns of 烟
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). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, smoking is prevalent, and discussions about tobacco often intersect with social practices and health awareness campaigns, reflecting the duality of tradition and modern health concerns.
📜Proverb
‘烟消云散’是一个常用的成语，意味着事情已经结束或消失。这个成语形象地描述了烟雾逐渐消失的情景。
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, smoking is often viewed through a health lens, whereas in some Chinese contexts, it remains socially accepted and is sometimes considered a sign of hospitality.
Word Family of 烟
Words Containing This Character20
烟yānsmoke煙
抽烟chōuyānto smoke (a cigarette, tobacco)抽煙
吸烟xīyānto smoke吸煙
香烟xiāngyāncigarette香煙
烟花yānhuāfireworks煙花
烟草tobacco煙草
烟雾smoke煙霧
戒烟jièyānto give up smoking戒煙
烟火yānhuǒfireworks煙火
烟囱yāncōngchimney煙囪
浓烟thick smoke濃煙
烟台Yantai prefecture level city in Shandong煙台
冒烟to discharge smoke冒煙
卷烟cigarette卷煙
烽烟fire beacon (used as alarm signal over long distance)烽煙
烟叶leaf tobacco煙葉
烟灰缸ashtray煙灰缸
烟头fag-end煙頭
硝烟smoke (from guns)硝煙
烟消云散to disappear煙消雲散
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 烟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 烟
烟 (yān) generally refers to 'smoke' or 'tobacco' in a broader sense, while 香烟 (xiāngyān) specifically means 'cigarette.' 香烟 emphasizes the aromatic quality of the tobacco used in cigarettes, whereas 烟 can refer to smoke from various sources.
In Mandarin Chinese, 'smoke' is translated as 烟 (yān). This term can also be used to describe the act of smoking or the smoke produced from burning materials, such as wood or tobacco.
烟 (yān) means 'smoke' or 'cigarette' in Chinese. It can refer to various forms of smoke, including that which comes from a cigarette or pipe tobacco. Additionally, it can denote mist or vapour, and in certain contexts, it may describe an irritation caused by smoke in the eyes.
To use 烟 in a sentence, you could say, '我在抽烟' (Wǒ zài chōu yān), which means 'I am smoking.' Another example is '空气中有烟' (Kōngqì zhōng yǒu yān), meaning 'There is smoke in the air.' It's important to note the context in which you use it to convey the correct meaning.
They are essentially the same in meaning, but 烟 is the modern form while 煙 is an older variant and less commonly used.
You can say '我不喜欢烟' (Wǒ bù xǐhuān yān) meaning 'I don't like smoke'.
The common measure word is 根 (gēn) for cigarettes.
