Definitions
(noun)
flame; inflammation
Etymology
Combination of two fires (火).
About
The character "炎" is constructed from a duplication of the component "火" for fire, stacked to convey the idea of flames rising and amplifying each other, which originally signified a blazing fire or intense heat. Its etymology as a compound ideogram directly links its form to this concept of multiplied fire. Over centuries, the meaning extended from literal combustion to describe conditions of inflammation in the body, drawing on the analogy of heat and redness, and further into abstract uses denoting fervent or heated states, such as in descriptions of passionate discourse or intense atmospheres. The character maintains this structural composition in both traditional and simplified systems, with no graphical alteration, underscoring its consistent conceptual origin.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
今天天气很炎热。
我的喉咙发炎了。
医生说他有炎症。
炎炎夏日要注意防晒。
他得了肺炎需要住院。
老年人常患关节炎。
这种消炎药效果很好。
这种食物可能引起炎性反应。