余烬
yújìn
The Chinese word for 'ember' is 余烬 (yújìn).
余烬 is used to refer to a glowing piece of coal or wood that remains from a fire.
Meaning: glowing piece of coal or wood (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 余 (yú), meaning 'remainder' or 'surplus' and 烬 (jìn), meaning 'ashes' or 'embers'.
How do you pronounce it?
yújìn
Did you know?
- The character 余 (yú) used in 余烬 is the same one used in modern economics to mean 'surplus', treating a glowing ember as a leftover piece of fuel.
- Chinese makes a strict distinction between 余烬 for glowing remains and 灰 (huī) for cold grey ash, whereas English often uses 'ashes' for both.
- While 'embers' in English often evokes a cozy or warm feeling, the term 余烬 in certain poetic Chinese contexts can evoke a sense of loneliness or the melancholy of 'the end' due to the 'remainder' (余) aspect of the word.
Examples in context
- 在火灾后，建筑师必须评估余烬中的风险。After a fire, architects must assess the risks in the remaining embers.
- 营火熄灭后，我们坐在余火边聊天。After the campfire extinguished, we sat by the embers and chatted.
- 篝火里还有些余烬。Gōuhuǒ lǐ hái yǒuxiē yújìn.There are still some embers in the campfire.
- 他看着炭火中的余烬。Tā kànzhe tànhuǒ zhōng de yújìn.He is looking at the embers in the charcoal fire.
- 余烬已经快熄灭了。Yújìn yǐjīng kuài xīmiè le.The embers are almost extinguished.
Example conversation
A couple is sitting by a dying campfire at night.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen火快灭了，只剩下一点余烬。Huǒ kuài miè le, zhǐ shèngxià yīdiǎn yújìn.The fire is going out, leaving only a few embers.
- 伟 Wei我再往里加点木柴吧。Wǒ zài wǎng lǐ jiā diǎn mùchái ba.I will add some more firewood.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen伟，小心别烫到手。Wěi, xiǎoxīn bié tàng dào shǒu.Wei, be careful not to burn your hand.
- 伟 Wei放心，我没事的。Fàngxīn, wǒ méishì de.Don't worry, I'll be fine.
