煙 / 烟
yān
The English phrase "smoke" (referring to the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material) is translated into Chinese as 煙 / 烟 (yān) or 煙 / 烟. If unsure, use 煙 / 烟.
Meaning: visible particles and vapour given off by burning material (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 煙 / 烟 | yān | |
| 煙 / 烟 | ian | Hokkien |
The noun 煙 / 烟 refers to the substance of smoke itself. If you want to describe the physical action of smoke rising from a source such as an engine or a fire, use the verb phrase 冒煙 / 冒烟. To describe the act of inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette or pipe, use the verb 吸煙 / 吸菸 / 吸烟.
Which one should you use?
While 煙 / 烟 is the noun for the substance, 吸煙 / 吸菸 / 吸烟 is the specific term used for the act of smoking cigarettes or pipes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form ян is used in Dungan, while the form 煙 / 烟 is used in Hokkien.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 煙 / 烟 is yān.
Did you know?
- In the context of certain card games, 煙 serves as a shorthand term for the 'ace' 煙士.
- In Chinese culture, the 'smoke' from incense is viewed as a medium for communication between the earthly realm and the spiritual world.
- The form ян is used in Dungan, a language spoken by the Hui people in Central Asia that uses a Cyrillic script instead of characters.
Examples in context
- 他每天都吸烟。He smokes every day.
- 我不喜欢抽烟。I don't like smoking.
- 小明正在抽根烟。Xiaoming is smoking a cigarette.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smoke” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 煙, CC BY-SA 4.0.
