燃 rán to ignite
to ignite; to burn; combustion
How to remember 燃: 火 fire + 然 however = to ignite. The scout rubs two sticks over the fire pit and says "However damp the morning is, this dry grass is ready to ignite."
Component breakdown
燃 = 火 fire + 然 however
- 火 fire
- 然 however
- 𱼀 meat
- 犬 dog
- 灬 fire
The scout rubs two sticks over the fire pit and says "However damp the morning is, this dry grass is ready to ignite."
How it is used
- A written-register verb for igniting or burning, used in more technical/literary contexts than the everyday verb 烧 shāo: 燃烧 ránshāo (to combust/burn), 点燃 diǎnrán (to light/ignite, e.g. a fire or a fuse).
- Builds compound nouns around fuel and combustion: 燃料 ránliào (fuel), 燃气 ránqì (gas fuel, as in a gas stove or heater), 燃油 rányóu (fuel oil).
- For everyday "burning" (a candle, paper, food burning on the stove) native speakers reach for 烧 first; 燃 shows up more in science, engineering, or figurative writing (激情燃烧 "passion burning").