燃烧 (rán shāo) — to burn (physically, of fire or objects); to burn (figuratively, of emotions, passion, etc.)

Definition

燃烧 describes fire or passion burning continuously and on its own — a self-sustaining process. 点燃 is the act of starting it; 烧毁 focuses on destruction by fire; 焚烧 is more formal/deliberate.

verb
to burn (physically, of fire or objects)to burn (figuratively, of emotions, passion, etc.)

Examples

  • 燃烧。
    Dà huǒ yì zhí rán shāo dào tiān liàng.
    The big fire kept burning until dawn.
  • 燃烧。
    Tā nèi xīn de rè qíng zài rán shāo.
    The passion in his heart is burning.
  • 燃烧。
    Tā de mèng xiǎng zài rán shāo.
    Her dream is burning.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

燃ránburn
烧shāoburn

Both 燃 and 烧 mean to burn, so the word emphasizes burning or combustion.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
然
然rán燃rán
Same sound today

燃 adds 火 (fire) to 然 to write “burn”; 然 supplied the sound, and 火 was added to make the fire meaning clear.

Open 燃 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 燒; 烧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo燒shāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 燒 pairs 火 (fire) with 堯, which supplies the sound; the simplified 烧 is a shorthand.

Open 烧 →
Appears in
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