煽

shān

扇 + 火

Definitions

shān to fan into a flame; to incite

Etymology

To fan 扇 the flames 火; 扇 also provides the pronunciation

About

The character 煽 is a phono-semantic compound: the fire radical 火 on the left suggests heat or burning, while the component 扇 (fan) on the right supplies the pronunciation and also evokes the notion of fanning. Literally, it refers to the act of blowing air onto a fire with a fan to make the flames blaze higher. From this concrete image, the meaning extended to inciting unrest or agitating people, and today 煽 most often describes the deliberate provocation of emotions or the encouragement of rebellious activities.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

谣言煽动了恐慌。

Yáoyán shāndòngle kǒnghuāng.

Rumors incited panic.

他试图煽动不满情绪。

Tā shìtú shāndòng bùmǎn qíngxù.

He tried to incite dissatisfaction.

这场演讲煽起了大家的热情。

Zhè chǎng yǎnjiǎng shān qǐle dàjiā de rèqíng.

This speech stirred up everyone's enthusiasm.

不要煽动他人参与冲突。

Bùyào shāndòng tārén cānyù chōngtū.

Do not incite others to participate in conflict.

这部电影煽情的手法很明显。

Zhè bù diànyǐng shānqíng de shǒufǎ hěn míngxiǎn.

The sentimental technique of this movie is very obvious.

政治家利用媒体煽动公众舆论。

Zhèngzhìjiā lìyòng méitǐ shāndòng gōngzhòng yúlùn.

Politicians use media to incite public opinion.

他的言论旨在煽动民族对立情绪。

Tā de yánlùn zhǐ zài shāndòng mínzú duìlì qíngxù.

His remarks aim to incite ethnic antagonism.

通过煽动恐惧，他们达到了控制的目的。

Tōngguò shāndòng kǒngjù, tāmen dádàole kòngzhì de mùdì.

By inciting fear, they achieved the goal of control.

Related Characters

Component: 扇

Component: 火

煽