炎炎 (yán yán) — scorching, sweltering (of summer heat); (literary) awe-inspiring, impressive

Definition

Literary reduplication of 炎, used almost only in set phrases like 炎炎夏日 to intensify the sense of 'scorching' heat. Not a standalone word.

bound form
scorchingsweltering (of summer heat)(literary) awe-inspiringimpressive
Easily confused

Examples

  • 炎炎，。
    yán yán Xià rì, rén men xǐ huan qù hǎi biān yóu yǒng.
    On scorching summer days, people like to go swimming at the beach.
  • 炎炎，。
    Tài yáng yán yán de, shài dé rén zhēng bù kāi yǎn jing.
    The sun is scorching, making it impossible to open one's eyes.
  • 炎炎，。
    Tā shuō huà shí shén tài yán yán, hěn yǒu wēi yán.
    His demeanor when speaking was awe-inspiring and dignified.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

炎yánheat
炎yánheat

炎 carries heat, and the two 炎 make the heat scorching.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

炎 places two 火 (fire) shapes vertically, one above the other, to show fire doubled.

Open 炎 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

炎 places two 火 (fire) shapes vertically, one above the other, to show fire doubled.

Open 炎 →

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