Definitions

fán burn; to roast meat for sacrifice

Etymology

To roast  meat on a spit  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "燔" is structured with the fire radical (火) as its semantic component and "番" as its phonetic element. Its etymology traces back to early Chinese texts where it specifically denoted the burning or roasting of meat in sacrificial ceremonies. Over time, the meaning of "燔" expanded to include the general act of burning or scorching, while its ritual association became less dominant in everyday language. The character's form, consisting of these two components, has remained consistent in its traditional representation.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern