火焰

• Pinyin: huǒ yàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 火 = pictograph of flames (fire, heat, combustion); 焰 = 火 + 臽 (fire + pit, the leaping visible flame of a burning fire)

Meaning

Flame; the visible, glowing part of a fire. Used both literally for flames and figuratively for intense passion, ardour, or revolutionary spirit.

火焰 refers specifically to the visible flame of a burning fire, as opposed to 火 (fire in general) or 火花 (spark). It appears in scientific contexts (燃烧产生的火焰) and poetic/figurative contexts (心中的火焰 — the flame in one's heart, meaning passion or desire). Common compounds: 火焰喷射器 (flamethrower), 奥运圣火火焰 (Olympic flame).

Examples

1. 焊接工人需要精确控制焊枪火焰的温度与角度，才能确保金属连接处达到最佳的焊接强度与密封性。 Welders have to precisely control the welding torch’s flame temperature and angle to ensure the joint reaches optimal strength and a proper seal.
2. 在那个动荡的年代，无数仁人志士用自己的生命点燃了民族独立的熊熊火焰，为后人铺就了一条通向自由与尊严的道路。 In that turbulent era, countless patriots gave their lives to ignite the blazing flame of national independence, paving a path toward freedom and dignity for later generations.
3. 实验室的气体泄漏引发了一场蔓延迅速的大火，救援人员冒着灼热的火焰奋勇冲入现场，将被困人员全部安全撤出。 A gas leak in the lab sparked a fast-spreading fire; rescuers charged into the site through searing flames and safely evacuated everyone who was trapped.

Usage Guide

Context: science, literature, metaphor, industry, safety

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 奥运火炬传递中的火焰跨越大洲，从一名运动员传到另一名运动员，最终点燃主火炬。(The flame in the Olympic torch relay crossed continents, passed from one athlete to another, and finally lit the main torch.)
• 钢铁冶炼时，炉内高温火焰能氧化分解杂质，只有精准控制强度和时间，才能炼出好钢。(During steel smelting, the high-temperature flame in the furnace can oxidize and break down impurities, and only precise control of intensity and time can produce good steel.)

Don't Say

• 火焰 for a small spark or ember — use 火花 for a spark or 余烬 for embers; 火焰 specifically implies a visible, sustained burning flame

Origin & History

火 (fire) + 焰 (flame/blaze) — 焰 itself contains 火 as a component, making this a reinforcing compound emphasising the visible aspect of fire

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal