烙

lào, luò

各 + 火

Definitions

lào to brand; to iron; to bake (in a pan)

luò used in 炮烙[páo luò]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound.

Semantic: 火 Phonetic: 各

About

烙 is a phono-semantic compound joining the fire radical 火, meaning 'fire', and the phonetic 各. It centers on the application of high temperatures to surfaces, covering actions such as ironing clothes, branding livestock with a hot iron, or baking flatbreads on a heated metal pan. The character captures both the physical act of heating and the permanent mark that remains, which naturally extends to metaphorical contexts: lasting psychological impressions or unforgettable memories burned into one's consciousness through powerful experiences.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在厨房烙饼。

Māma zài chúfáng lào bǐng.

Mom is making griddle cakes in the kitchen.

那块铁上有一个烙印。

Nà kuài tiě shàng yǒu yī gè làoyìn.

There is a brand on that piece of iron.

他用烙铁修理电器。

Tā yòng làotiě xiūlǐ diànqì.

He uses a soldering iron to repair electrical appliances.

烙衣服需要小心。

Lào yīfu xūyào xiǎoxīn.

Ironing clothes requires care.

爷爷在院子里烙了一块铁板。

Yéye zài yuànzi lǐ lào le yī kuài tiě bǎn.

Grandpa branded an iron plate in the yard.

这段经历在他心中留下了深深的烙印。

Zhè duàn jīnglì zài tā xīnzhōng liú xià le shēnshēn de làoyìn.

This experience left a deep brand in his heart.

厨师正在用平底锅烙美味的煎饼。

Chúshī zhèngzài yòng píngdǐguō lào měiwèi de jiānbǐng.

The chef is using a frying pan to make delicious pancakes.

通过高温烙制，这种材料能够形成持久的图案。

Tōngguò gāowēn lào zhì, zhè zhǒng cáiliào nénggòu xíngchéng chíjiǔ de tú'àn.

Through high-temperature branding, this material can form durable patterns.

Related Characters

Component: 各

Component: 火

烙