燃烧

• Pinyin: rán shāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 燃 = 火 (fire) + 然 (phonetic) — to ignite; 烧 = 火 (fire) + 尧 (phonetic) — to burn or cook

Meaning

To burn; to combust. Describes the process of something catching fire and producing heat and light.

Used both literally for physical burning and combustion, and figuratively to describe intense passion, ambition, or energy. Common in science, news, and literary contexts. Often appears in phrases like 燃烧脂肪 (burn fat) and 燃烧激情 (burning passion).

Examples

1. 森林大火已经燃烧了三天三夜。 The forest fire has been burning for three days and three nights.
2. 蜡烛在桌子上安静地燃烧着。 The candle burned quietly on the table.
3. 运动可以帮助身体燃烧多余的脂肪。 Exercise can help the body burn excess fat.

Usage Guide

Context: science, news, literature

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 垃圾不能随便燃烧，会污染空气。(Rubbish should not be burned carelessly; it pollutes the air.)
• 他心中燃烧着对音乐的热爱。(A love of music burns in his heart.)

Don't Say

• 我的脸在燃烧 meaning my face feels hot from embarrassment (Don't use 燃烧 for blushing — it implies actual fire; say 我的脸发烫 or 我脸红了 instead)

Origin & History

A compound of 燃 (to ignite, to burn) and 烧 (to burn, to cook with fire) — both characters relate to fire, reinforcing the meaning of combustion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal