点燃

• Pinyin: diǎn rán
• Hanzi breakdown: 点 = 黑 (black) + 占 (simplified); 燃 = 火 (fire) + 然 (phonetic)

Meaning

To ignite; to light; to set fire to. To cause something to start burning.

Used literally for lighting fires, candles, fireworks, etc. Also used figuratively for igniting passion, hope, enthusiasm, or other abstract concepts.

Examples

1. 她点燃了生日蛋糕上的蜡烛，许下了心愿。 She lit the candles on the birthday cake and made a wish.
2. 一颗火星点燃了整片干燥的草地。 A single spark ignited the entire dry grassland.
3. 他的演讲点燃了全场观众的热情。 His speech ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, celebration, metaphorical

Tone: active

Do Say

• 点燃蜡烛。(Light the candles.)
• 点燃希望。(Ignite hope.)

Don't Say

• '点燃'强调从无到有的燃烧——已经在燃烧的东西不用'点燃'，用'烧着'或'在烧' (点燃 emphasizes starting a fire from nothing — for things already burning, use 烧着 or 在烧)

Origin & History

Compound of 点 (to dot, to light) + 燃 (to burn), describing the action of starting a fire.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal