Definition
烟 (yān) has two main uses: 'cigarette/tobacco' and 'smoke' (including mist from fire). As a noun meaning 'mist, vapour,' it differs from 雾 (wù) 'fog' (meteorological, not from burning). The sibling 熏 (xūn) is a verb for the action of smoking or fumigating, not the substance itself.
noun
cigarette or pipe tobaccosmokemistvapour
Measure word · 根, 缕
Easily confused
- 咽yànlook-aliketo swallow
- 眼yǎnsound-alikeeye
- 因yīnlook-alike(preposition) because of, due to
- 演yǎnsound-aliketo perform, to act (in a play, movie, etc.)
- 盐yánsound-alikesalt
- 严yánsound-alikestrict, stern, severe
- 延yánsound-aliketo extend; to prolong (in time or length)
- 验yànsound-aliketo examine; to test; to check
- 沿yánsound-alike(preposition) along
- 淹yānsound-aliketo flood; to submerge
Examples
- 烟。Qǐng gěi wǒ yì gēn yān.Please give me a cigarette.
- ，烟。Huǒ shāo qǐlai le, mào chū hěn duō yān.The fire started, sending out lots of smoke.
- 烟。Hú miàn shàng yǒu yì céng yān.There is a layer of mist on the lake.
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