烟 — meaning in English: smoke

yān · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for smoke

烟

yān

反对派

fǎnduì pài

帽子

màozi

图书馆

túshū guǎn

民

mín

Skip this question

🎓

Learn Mandarin Chinese for free

Quizzes, examples, audio & daily challenges. No password needed — just your email.

Start learning →

Already have an account? Log in

neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use the word 烟 (yān) in contexts involving smoking, cooking, or discussing air quality. For instance, someone might say, '这家餐厅的烟味很重' (The restaurant has a strong smell of smoke) when describing an eatery famous for its grilled dishes.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym of 烟 (yān) is 蒸汽 (zhēngqì), meaning 'steam', which refers to vapor produced by boiling. While both words denote airborne particles, 烟 specifically implies something that is often a byproduct of combustion, rather than the moisture content in steam.

Culture

The character 烟 (yān) literally combines the elements of fire and a form of mist, hinting at its origins rooted in ancient practices of wood burning. In Chinese culture, smoke also carries symbolic meanings, representing the connection between the earthly and the spiritual during festivals like the Qingming Festival, where families honor their ancestors by burning incense.

FAQ

Q.What does 烟 mean in English?

The word 烟 (yān) translates to 'smoke' in English, commonly referring to the visible vapor produced by burning materials.

Q.How do you use 烟 in a sentence?

You might say '我不喜欢吸烟' (Wǒ bù xǐhuān xī yān), which means 'I don't like smoking.' This shows how the word can be integrated into daily conversations.

Q.Are there any common mistakes with using 烟?

A common mistake is confusing 烟 (yān) with 冒烟 (màoyān), which means 'to emit smoke'. While 烟 refers to the substance itself, 冒烟 describes the action of producing it.

Learn mandarin chinese with Maspeak →

Chinese (Mandarin) 2000