火

火	U+706B, 火 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-706B

← 灪
[U+706A]

CJK Unified Ideographs

灬 →
[U+706C]

⽕	U+2F55, ⽕ KANGXI RADICAL FIRE

← ⽔
[U+2F54]

Kangxi Radicals

⽖ →
[U+2F56]

Translingual

Stroke order

Alternative forms

灬 (when used as a bottom Chinese radical)

Han character

Stroke order

火 (Kangxi radical 86, 火+0, 4 strokes, cangjie input 火 (F), four-corner 9080₀, composition ⿻⿰丿丿人(GJKV) or ⿻丷人(HT))

Kangxi radical #86, ⽕.

Derived characters

Appendix:Chinese radical/火
黑(黒)
伙, 吙, 𡵼, 𫹐, 𣲧, 狄, 阦, 𨑯, 𣃛, 𭨬, 𣏹, 𣧛, 𪵘, 𤘭, 𪻓, 𥘙, 𪼸, 𤰹, 疢, 𥄣, 秋, 𦈦, 耿, 𧺩, 鈥(钬), 𩖧, 𣺸, 𫘉, 𩲕, 𩵰, 𪌌
邩, 𤬬, 畑, 秌, 𦓒, 烙, 䙺, 𧣌, 𨚊, 𨟽, 䲴, 𠠽, 𪢾, 𡗩, 𣏦, 𣲱, 𦙊, 𭿿, 𮝃, 𬮟, 𡇂
𬽄, 灰, 𡭞, 𡵖, 𢏅, 苂, 𭭝, 𣱛, 𤽈, 𬔇, 荧, 𬔲, 羙, 䎡, 𬟩, 𧈾, 䙳, 𧿮, 倐, 𮦉, 𩇭, 𫳡, 𣣛, 𩬊, 𦎟, 𪎖, 𦹪, 𩃏, 齌, 䀆, 㴴, 燮

References

KangXi: page 665, character 1
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 18850
Dae Jaweon: page 1073, character 19
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2187, character 1
Unihan data for U+706B

Chinese

trad.		火
simp. ^#		火

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 火
Shang	Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States		Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (火) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
火	*qʰʷaːlʔ
邩	*qʰʷaːlʔ
伙	*qʰʷaːlʔ

Pictogram (象形) – pictographic representation of a fire.

Etymology

Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mej (Schuessler 2007; STEDT). However, see there for phonological problems.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): huǒ (huo³)
(Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄛˇ
(Chengdu, SP): ho³
(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): хуә (huə, II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): fo²
(Taishan, Wiktionary): fo²
Gan (Wiktionary): fo³
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): fó
(Meixian, Guangdong): fo³
Jin (Wiktionary): hue²
Min Bei (KCR): hǒ
Min Dong (BUC): huōi / huō
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): hé / hér / hóe / hóⁿ
(Teochew, Peng'im): huê²
Wu (Wiktionary): hu (T2)
Xiang (Wiktionary): ho³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: huǒ
  - Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄛˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: huǒ
  - Wade–Giles: huo³
  - Yale: hwǒ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: huoo
  - Palladius: хо (xo)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xwɔ²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: ho³
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xo
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xo⁵³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: хуә (huə, II)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xuə⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: fo²
  - Yale: fó
  - Cantonese Pinyin: fo²
  - Guangdong Romanization: fo²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔː³⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: fo²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fᵘɔ⁵⁵/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: fo³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fo²¹³/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fó
  - Hakka Romanization System: fo`
  - Hagfa Pinyim: fo³
  - Sinological IPA: /fo³¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: fo³
  - Sinological IPA: /fo³¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: hue²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /xuɤ⁵³/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: hǒ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xo²¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: huōi / huō
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hui³³/, /huo³³/

Note:

huōi - colloquial;
huō - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Jinjiang, Taipei, Magong, Hsinchu, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hé
  - Tâi-lô: hé
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hea
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /he⁵³/
  - IPA (Jinjiang, Philippines): /he⁵⁵⁴/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Lukang, Sanxia, Kinmen, Hsinchu)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hér
  - Tâi-lô: hér
  - IPA (Lukang): /hə⁵⁵/
  - IPA (Kinmen): /hə⁵³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /hə⁵⁵⁴/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan, Taichung, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hóe
  - Tâi-lô: hué
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hoea
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /hue⁴¹/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou, Tainan, Yilan): /hue⁵³/
  - IPA (Singapore): /hue⁴²/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hóⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: hónn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hvor
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /hɔ̃⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /hɔ̃⁵³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /hɔ̃⁴¹/

Note:

hé/hér/hóe - vernacular;
hóⁿ - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: huê²
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hué
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hue⁵²/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: hu (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hv̩ʷ³⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: ho³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xo⁴¹/

Middle Chinese: /huɑ^X/

Rime
Character	火
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	曉 (32)
Final (韻)	戈 (95)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	呼果切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/huɑ^X/
Pan Wuyun	/huɑ^X/
Shao Rongfen	/xuɑ^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/hwa^X/
Li Rong	/xuɑ^X/
Wang Li	/xuɑ^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/xuɑ^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	huǒ
Expected Cantonese Reflex	fo²

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[qʷʰ]ˤəjʔ/
(Zhengzhang): /*qʰʷaːlʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	火
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	huǒ
Middle Chinese	‹ xwa^X ›
Old Chinese	/*[qʷʰ]ˁəjʔ/
English	fire
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	火
Reading #	1/1
No.	5540
Phonetic component	火
Rime group	歌
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	火
Old Chinese	/*qʰʷaːlʔ/

Definitions

火

fire; flame
可以跟你借一個火嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
可以跟你借一个火吗？ [MSC, simp.]
Kěyǐ gēn nǐ jiè yīge huǒ ma? [Pinyin]
Can I borrow a light?
fire (as a disaster); inferno
red; fiery; bright; brilliant
to burn down
light; torch
(dialectal) light; lamp
anger; rage; wrath
to become enraged
angry; furious
(traditional Chinese medicine) internal heat
firearm; ammunition; weapon
war; warfare
thriving; brisk
urgent; pressing
(neologism) to become popular; to go viral
(neologism) to be popular; to be viral
(Cantonese) watt (unit of power)
※Definitely, "火" here is a unit of brightness (luminous intensity). However, the brightness of a luminous device is measured in watts in life because of luminous intensity's dependence on power, which resulted in it being bonded to watt, the unit of power.
20火嘅燈膽／20火嘅灯胆 [Cantonese] ― 20 fo² ge³ dang¹ daam² [Jyutping] ― 20-watt lightbulb
Short for 火星 (Huǒxīng, “Mars”).
(Cantonese) roasted
Synonyms: 烤 (kǎo), 燒／烧 (shāo)
火鴨／火鸭 [Cantonese] ― fo² aap³ [Jyutping] ― roasted duck

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 火 (“fire”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		火
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		火
Mandarin	Beijing	火
	Taiwan	火
	Tianjin	火
	Chengde	火
	Tangshan	火
	Cangzhou	火
	Baoding	火
	Shijiazhuang	火
	Chifeng	火
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	火
	Heihe	火
	Qiqihar	火
	Harbin	火
	Jiamusi	火
	Baicheng	火
	Changchun	火
	Tonghua	火
	Shenyang	火
	Dandong	火
	Jinzhou	火
	Dalian	火
	Yantai	火
	Qingdao	火
	Lijin	火
	Jinan	火
	Jining	火
	Wanrong	火
	Shangqiu	火
	Yuanyang	火
	Lingbao	火
	Xinyang	火
	Baihe	火
	Hanzhong	火
	Xi'an	火
	Baoji	火
	Yinchuan	火
	Tianshui	火
	Lanzhou	火
	Dunhuang	火
	Xining	火
	Hami	火
	Ürümqi	火
	Wuhan	火
	Yichang	火
	Xiangyang	火
	Tianmen	火
	Hong'an	火
	Chengdu	火
	Nanchong	火
	Dazhou	火
	Hanyuan	火
	Xichang	火
	Zigong	火
	Chongqing	火
	Guiyang	火
	Zunyi	火
	Bijie	火
	Liping	火
	Zhaotong	火
	Dali	火
	Kunming	火
	Mengzi	火
	Guilin	火
	Liuzhou	火
Jishou	火
Changde	火
Anqing	火
Xuzhou	火
Fuyang	火
Wuhu	火
Yangzhou	火
Lianyungang	火
Lianshui	火
Nanjing	火
Hefei	火
Nantong	火
Singapore	火
Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	火
Dagudi (Maliba)	火
Reshuitang (Longling)	火
Mae Salong (Lancang)	火
Mae Sai (Tengchong)	火
Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	火
Cantonese	Guangzhou	火
	Hong Kong	火
	Taishan (Guanghai)	火
	Wuzhou	火
	Qinzhou (Xiniujiao)	火
	Beihai	火
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	火
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	火
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	火
	Sanya (Yanglan Maihua)	火
	Singapore (Guangfu)	火
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	火
	Móng Cái	火
	Mandalay (Taishan)	火
Gan	Nanchang	火
Hakka	Meixian	火
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	火
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	火
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	火
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	火
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	火
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	火
Huizhou	Jixi	火
Huizhou	Shexian	火
Jin	Taiyuan	火
	Yangyuan	火
	Datong	火
	Xinzhou	火
	Lishi	火
	Linfen	火
	Changzhi	火
	Linhe	火
	Hohhot	火
	Baotou	火
	Erenhot	火
	Pingshan	火
	Zhangjiakou	火
	Handan	火
	Linzhou	火
	Suide	火
Min Dong	Fuzhou	火
Min Nan	Xiamen	火
	Quanzhou	火
	Zhangzhou	火
	Tainan	火
	Singapore (Hokkien)	火
	Manila (Hokkien)	火
	Leizhou	火
Wu	Shanghai (Chongming)	火
	Suzhou	火
	Hangzhou	火
	Hangzhou (Fuyang)	火
	Shaoxing	火
	Wenzhou	火
	Jinhua	火
Xiang	Changsha	火
	Xiangxiang	火
	Loudi	火

Dialectal synonyms of 燈 (“lamp; light”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		燈
Mandarin	Taiwan	燈
	Xi'an	燈
	Chengdu	亮
	Guilin	燈
	Malaysia	火, 燈
	Singapore	燈
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	燈
Cantonese	Guangzhou	燈
	Hong Kong	燈
	Taishan	燈, 火
	Singapore (Guangfu)	燈, 火
Gan	Nanchang	燈
Hakka	Meixian	燈
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	燈, 火
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	燈, 火
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	燈, 火
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	燈, 火
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	燈, 火
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	燈, 火
Jin	Taiyuan	燈
Min Dong	Fuzhou	燈
Min Nan	Xiamen	燈
	Penang (Hokkien)	燈, 火
	Singapore (Hokkien)	火
	Manila (Hokkien)	火, 燈
	Singapore (Teochew)	火, 燈
Waxiang	Guzhang (Gaofeng)	燈
Wu	Suzhou	燈
	Ningbo	燈, 亮 dated
	Wenzhou	燈
Xiang	Changsha	燈, 亮
Xiang	Xiangxiang	燈

Dialectal synonyms of 瓦特 (“watt”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		瓦特, 瓦
Mandarin	Taiwan	瓦
	Wuhan	支光
	Guiyang	支光, 瓦
	Guilin	瓦
	Dagudi (Maliba)	瓦
	Reshuitang (Longling)	瓦
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	瓦
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	瓦
Cantonese	Guangzhou	火, 𡆇
	Hong Kong	火, 𡆇
	Taishan (Guanghai)	瓦
	Beihai	瓦
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	瓦, 火
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	瓦
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	瓦
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	瓦
	Móng Cái	瓦
	Mandalay (Taishan)	度
Hakka	Meixian	𡆇
Min Nan	Shantou	瓦
Wu	Hangzhou	支光
Wu	Ningbo	支光

(internal heat (traditional Chinese medicine)):

edit

心火 (xīnhuǒ)
烲／焎 (xiè)
內火／内火 (nèihuǒ)

火氣／火气 (huǒqì)
熱氣／热气 (rèqì)

燒氣／烧气 (sio-khì) (Min Nan)
風火／风火 (fēnghuǒ) (Min Nan)

Compounds

Derived terms from 火

一團火／一团火
一天火
一火
一腔火
上火
下火
中火
乞火
交火
休火山
併火／并火
借火
停火
光火
兵火
冒火
凡火
出火
出火炕
動火／动火
動肝火／动肝火
升火
去火
取火
吃火鍋／吃火锅
合火
吐火
向火
君火
吹火
咸陽火／咸阳火
單火輪／单火轮
噴火／喷火
噴火器／喷火器
噴火山／喷火山
回火
大火
天火
失火
如火如荼
客火
家火
實火／实火
封了火
封火
導火線／导火线
小火輪／小火轮
平安火
底火
引火
引火線／引火线
引火點／引火点
心火
心狂火著／心狂火着
怒火
惱火／恼火
惹火
愛火／爱火
慢火
慧火
慾火／欲火
戰火／战火
打中火
打平火
打明火
打火
打火店
打火機／打火机
打火石
打火鐮／打火镰
打野火
拔火罐
拜火教
掛火／挂火
接火
插火坑
揭火
搧火
搶火／抢火
撇火石
撥火／拨火
撥火兒／拨火儿
撥火棍／拨火棍
撥火棒／拨火棒
擻火／擞火
攬野火／揽野火
放水火
放火
放邪火
放野火
救火
救火員／救火员
救火栓
救火機／救火机
救火車／救火车
敗火／败火
文火
新火
斷火／断火
明火
星火
暖火盆
柴火
業火／业火
榆火
榴火
槐火
武火
死火山
水火
水火夫
水火棍
水火爐／水火炉
汗火
泥火山
洋火
洋火腿
活火
活火山
流火
消火器
消火栓
消火氣／消火气
淬火
清火
湯火／汤火
滅火／灭火
滅火器／灭火器
滅火沙／灭火沙
漁火／渔火
潑火／泼火
火下
火不思
火不登
火不騰／火不腾
火主
火亮
火伍
火伴
火併／火并
火候
火傘／火伞
火備／火备

火光
火具
火冒
火刀
火判
火剌剌
火前
火剪
火力
火力點／火力点
火劫
火勢／火势
火化
火匣子
火器
火囤
火圈
火坑
火場／火场
火塘
火大
火夫
火夾／火夹
火字旁
火宅
火宅僧
火家
火寸
火山
火山口
火山岩
火崩崩
火巷
火底
火彩兒／火彩儿
火德
火急
火性
火患
火憲／火宪
火成岩
火房
火把
火拼
火捻
火捻子
火摺子／火折子
火攻
火政
火教
火斗
火星
火星塞
火曜
火柱
火柴
火棒
火楣子
火毬／火球
火氣／火气
火油
火泥
火浣布
火海
火漆
火災／火灾
火炕
火炬
火炭
火炮
火烤
火焰
火焰山
火焰焰
火煤子
火熱／火热
火熹微
火熾／火炽
火燎腿
火燒／火烧
火燒坪／火烧坪
火燒心／火烧心
火燒車／火烧车
火燒雲／火烧云
火燙／火烫
火燭／火烛
火爆
火爐／火炉
火牌
火牛陣／火牛阵
火犁
火狐
火玻璃
火球
火田
火甲
火症
火療／火疗
火癉／火瘅
火盆
火盆兒／火盆儿
火眼
火石
火磚／火砖
火神
火神廟／火神庙
火票
火禁
火種／火种
火窟
火筒
火筷子
火箭
火箭彈／火箭弹
火箭炮
火箭筒
火箱
火箸
火籠／火笼
火籤／火签
火紅／火红
火紙／火纸
火絨／火绒
火網／火网
火線／火线
火繩／火绳
火罐兒／火罐儿
火者
火耕
火耗
火腿
火腿族
火舌
火色
火花
火苗
火葫蘆／火葫芦
火葬
火藥／火药
火虞
火蟲兒／火虫儿
火蠍子／火蝎子

火裡赤／火里赤
火警
火踏
火車／火车
火車站／火车站
火車頭／火车头
火輪／火轮
火辣
火辣辣
火速
火酒
火金姑
火鉗／火钳
火鋪／火铺
火鍋／火锅
火鏈片／火链片
火鏡／火镜
火鐮／火镰
火長／火长
火門／火门
火院
火險／火险
火雜雜／火杂杂
火雞／火鸡
火雲／火云
火頭／火头
火頭上／火头上
火頭軍／火头军
火食
火鳥／火鸟
火鶴花／火鹤花
火齊／火齐
火齊珠／火齐珠
火龍／火龙
灶火
炊火
炎火
炬火
炭火
炮火
烈火
烤火
烽火
烽火臺／烽火台
烽火館／烽火馆
無名火／无名火
無明火／无明火
焰火
煙火／烟火
煙火氣／烟火气
煙火食／烟火食
熄火
熅火／煴火
熱火／热火
燈火／灯火
燈火店／灯火店
燐火／磷火
燒火／烧火
燒火焜／烧火焜
營火／营火
營火會／营火会
燧火鏡／燧火镜
燭火／烛火
爐火／炉火
爝火
爟火
猛火
猛火油
玩火
生火
痰火
發火／发火
發火點／发火点
石火
砸明火
磷火
社火
禁火
突火
窩火／窝火
篝火
籠火／笼火
縱火／纵火
耐火磚／耐火砖
聖火／圣火
肝火
肝火旺
肝火盛
肺火
脾火
膏火
自來火／自来火
舉火／举火
艾火
著火／着火
著火點／着火点
蓄火
蓋火／盖火
蓋火鍋／盖火锅
薪火
虛火／虚火
螢火／萤火
螢火蟲／萤火虫
觀火／观火
討野火／讨野火
訛火／讹火
走火
赴湯蹈火／赴汤蹈火
起火
起火店
跳火坑
跳火海
軍火／军火
軍火庫／军火库
退火
過火／过火
遺火／遗火
野火
鑽火／钻火
開火／开火
防火
防火牆／防火墙
降火
陰火／阴火
隔火
雷火
霹靂火／霹雳火
頂膛火／顶膛火
風火／风火
風火事／风火事
風火性／风火性
風火牆／风火墙
風火輪／风火轮
食火雞／食火鸡
飢火／饥火
香火
香火情
香火院
鬱火／郁火
鬼火
鶉火／鹑火
點火／点火

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (火):

→ Japanese: 火(か) (ka)
→ Korean: 화(火) (hwa)
→ Vietnamese: hoả (火)

Japanese

Kanji

火

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Go-on: か (ka, Jōyō)^{←くわ (kwa, historical)}
Kan-on: か (ka, Jōyō)^{←くわ (kwa, historical)}
Tō-on: こ (ko)
Kun: ひ (hi, 火, Jōyō); ほ (ho, 火, Jōyō ^†)

Compounds

火(か)炎(えん) (kaen, “flame”)
火気(かき) (kaki, “fire”)
火器(かき) (kaki, “firearms”)
火急(かきゅう) (kakyū, “emergency”)
火球(かきゅう) (kakyū, “fireball”)
火口(かこう) (kakō, “crater”)
火鼠(かそ) (kaso, “fire rat”)
火(か)災(さい) (kasai, “conflagration”)
火山(かざん) (kazan, “volcano”)
火事(かじ) (kaji, “fire”)
火傷(かしょう) (kashō, “burn”)
火(か)星(せい) (kasei, “Mars”)
火(か)勢(せい) (kasei, “force of flames”)
火(か)成(せい) (kasei)
火葬(かそう) (kasō, “cremation”)
火中(かちゅう) (kachū)
火難(かなん) (kanan, “fire calamity”)
火(か)薬(やく) (kayaku, “gunpowder”)
火曜(かよう) (kayō)
火(か)力(りょく) (karyoku, “steam power, firepower”)
煙火(えんか) (enka)
火鈴(こりん) (korin, “(Zen) fire bell”)
業火(ごうか) (gōka, “hellfire”)
小火(しょうか) (shōka)
野火(やか) (yaka, “wildfire”)
小火(ぼや) (boya)
火傷(やけど) (yakedo)

Etymology 1

火 (hi, ho, ka): fire.

Kanji in this term
火
ひ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

⟨pi₂⟩ → */pʷɨ/ → /ɸi/ → /hi/

From Old Japanese,[1] from Proto-Japonic *poy.

Apophonic form of ho (see below), possibly by fusion with emphatic particle い (i). Compare the development of 木 (ko → ki, “tree”).

Alternative forms

(light): 灯

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ひ [híꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [çi]

Noun

火(ひ) • (hi)

term relating to fire:
1. a flame
  Synonyms: 火気 (kaki), ファイア (faia), 炎 (honō)
2. cooking fire
3. a firestarter
4. sparks
5. light (matches or lighter)
  火(ひ)を貸(か)してもらえる？
  Hi o kashite moraeru?
  Can I borrow a light?
6. heat
  Synonyms: 火熱 (kanetsu), 熱 (netsu)
7. a conflagration
  Synonyms: 火災 (kasai), 火事 (kaji)
8. a signal fire
  Synonym: 狼煙 (noroshi)
(by extension) a light
a burning passion
menstruation
Synonym: 月経 (gekkei)

Derived terms

火(ひ)遊(あそ)び (hiasobi, “playing with fire”)
火(ひ)口(ぐち) (higuchi): torch head, welding tip
火(ひ)先(さき) (hisaki, “tip of a flame”)
火(ひ)縄(なわ) (hinawa)
火(ひ)鼠(ねずみ) (hinezumi, “fire rat/mouse”)
火(ひ)の車(くるま) (hi no kuruma): a fire-spouting cart in Hell, in which sinners are transported: a metaphor for being in a difficult situation, usually financially
火(ひ)の手(て) (hi no te, “flames”)
火(ひ)鉢(ばち) (hibachi)
火(ひ)花(ばな) (hibana)
火(ひ)箸(ばし) (hibashi, “tongs”)
火(ひ)蓋(ぶた) (hibuta)
火(ひ)偏(へん) (hihen, “fire radical”)
火(ひ)元(もと) (himoto, “origin of a fire”)
火(ひ)矢(や), 火(ひ)箭(や) (hiya, “fire arrow”)
漁(いさ)り火(び) (isaribi)
鬼(おに)火(び) (onibi, “devilfire; will-o'-the-wisp; jack-o'-lantern”)
篝(かがり)火(び) (kagaribi): a fire set in an iron cage-like bucket and used as illumination by guards or hunters; a capable person who gets things done
狐(きつね)火(び) (kitsunebi, “will o' the wisp, foxfire”)
灯(ともしび) (tomoshibi)
花(はな)火(び), 煙(はな)火(び) (hanabi, “fireworks”)

Idioms

火(ひ)を見(み)るよりも明(あき)らか (hi o miru yori mo akiraka, “clearer than seeing the fire → as plain as day, as plain as the nose on one's face, as clear as a bell”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
火
ほ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

/po/ → /ɸo/ → /ho/

From Old Japanese.[1]

Combining form of hi above. Probably the oldest form, possibly cognate with Korean 불 (bul, “fire”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ho̞]

Noun

火(ほ) • (ho)

a fire

Derived terms

火(ほ)影(かげ) (hokage, “firelight/fire shadow”)
火(ほ)口(くち) (hokuchi, “tinder, firestarter”)
火気(ほけ) (hoke, “flame; heat; smoke”)
火(ほ)先(さき) (hosaki, “tip of a flame”)
蛍(ほたる) (hotaru, “firefly”)
火照(ほて)る (hoteru, “to feel hot or flushed”)
火(ほ)中(なか) (honaka)
炎(ほのお) (honō, “flame”)
炎(ほむら), 焔(ほむら) (homura, “flames, metaphorical flames”, connoting strong emotions such as anger or jealousy, or such as ambition or passion)

Etymology 3

火 (ka): fire in the Wu Xing system

火 (Ka): Antares in the Scorpio constellation

Kanji in this term
火
か Grade: 1
on’yomi

/kwa/ → /ka/

From Middle Chinese 火 (MC huɑ^X).[1]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) か [káꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [ka̠]

Noun

火(か) • (ka) ^{←くわ (kwa)^?}

a fire
one of the five classical elements in traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine: see Wu Xing on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
(historical) under the old 律令 (Ritsuryō) system of ancient Japan, a military grouping, consisting of 10 soldiers: a squad
Synonym: 分隊 (buntai)
Short for 火曜日 (kayōbi): Tuesday

Derived terms

風林火山(ふうりんかざん) (fūrinkazan)

Affix

火(か) • (ka) ^{←くわ (kwa)^?}

fire
light
burning
passion
imminently
explosive

Proper noun

火(か) • (Ka) ^{←くわ (kwa)^?}

Antares, in the constellation Scorpio
Synonyms: アンタレス (Antaresu), 大火 (Taika)

References

1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 火 (MC huɑ^X).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	황〯 (Yale: hwǎ)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527	블〮 (Yale: púl)	화〯 (Yale: hwǎ)

Pronunciation

(in 화요 (火曜, hwayo)):
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɸwa̠]
- Phonetic hangul: [화]
(fire; anger; etc.):
- (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɸwa̠(ː)]
- Phonetic hangul: [화(ː)]
  - Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource火 (eumhun 불 화 (bul hwa))

Hanja form^? of 화 (“fire; heat”). [affix]
Hanja form^? of 화 (“anger”). [noun]
Hanja form^? of 화 (“(as an abbreviation) Mars”).
Hanja form^? of 화 (“Short for 화요일(火曜日) (hwayoil, “Tuesday”).”).

Compounds

곡제화주 (穀製火酒, gokjehwaju)
귀화 (鬼火, gwihwa)
내화복 (耐火服, naehwabok)
대화 (大火, daehwa)
도화선 (導火線, dohwaseon)
등화 (燈火, deunghwa)
발화 (發火, balhwa)
방화 (放火, banghwa)
방화 (防火, banghwa)
병화 (病火, byeonghwa)
봉화 (烽火, bonghwa)
성화 (聖火, seonghwa)
소화 (燒火, sohwa)
소화기 (消火器, sohwagi)
소화전 (消火栓, sohwajeon)
연화신호 (煙火信號, yeonhwasinho)
요화 (燎火, yohwa)
유화 (流火, yuhwa)
인화 (引火, inhwa)
전화 (戰火, jeonhwa)
점화 (點火, jeomhwa)
진화 (鎭火, jinhwa)
착화 (着火, chakhwa)
포화 (砲火, pohwa)
화각 (火角, hwagak)
화기 (火器, hwagi)
화기 (火技, hwagi)
화기 (火氣, hwagi)
화대 (火大, hwadae)
화두 (火頭, hwadu)
화둔 (火遁, hwadun)
화력 (火力, hwaryeok)
화륜선 (火輪船, hwaryunseon)
화마 (火魔, hwama)
화산 (火山, hwasan)
화상 (火傷, hwasang)
화상 (火床, hwasang)
화성 (火星, hwaseong)
화성 (火聲, hwaseong)
화신 (火神, hwasin)
화약 (火藥, hwayak)
화염 (火焰, hwayeom)
화염병 (火焰甁, hwayeombyeong)
화요일 (火曜日, hwayoil)
화장 (火葬, hwajang)
화재 (火災, hwajae)
화제 (火帝, hwaje)
화주 (火主, hwaju)
화증 (火症, hwajeung)
화직성 (火直星, hwajikseong)
화청 (火淸, hwacheong)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Old Japanese

Etymology 1

From Proto-Japonic *poy.

Apophonic form of po (see below), possibly by fusion with emphatic particle い (i₂).

Compare the development of 木 (ko₂ → ki₂, “tree”).

Noun

火 (pi₂) (kana ひ)

a fire
- 711–712, Kojiki (poem 24)
  佐泥佐斯佐賀牟能袁怒邇毛由流肥能本那迦邇多知弖斗比斯岐美波母
  sanesasi Sagamu no₂ wono₁ ni mo₁yuru pi₂ no₂ ponaka ni tatite to₁pi₁si ki₁mi₁ pa mo₂
  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
(by extension) a light

Derived terms

火の神 (pi₂ no₂ kami₂, “fire deity”)
葦火 (asipi₂, “fire using dried reeds as kindling or fuel”)

Descendants

Japanese: 火 (hi), 灯 (hi)

Etymology 2

Combining form of pi₂ above, probably the older form.

Noun

火 (po) (kana ほ)

a fire

Derived terms

螢 (potaru, “firefly”)
火の神 (po no₂ kami₂, “fire deity”)
炎 (pono₂po, “flame”)

Descendants

Japanese: 火 (ho)

Etymology 3

Appears in only one poem in the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE) as a compound, see derived term 葦火 (asipu).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Eastern OJP variant of hypothetical *⟨po₂⟩?”)

Noun

火 (pu) (kana ふ)

(regional, Central Eastern Old Japanese) a fire

Derived terms

富士 (Puzi, “Mount Fuji”) (disputed; might be an Ainu loanword)
葦火 (asipu, “fire using dried reeds as kindling or fuel”)

Vietnamese

Han character

火: Hán Việt readings: hỏa/hoả[1][2][3]
火: Nôm readings: hỏa/hoả[2][3][4][5], ỏa/oả[1]

chữ Hán form of hoả (“fire”).

Compounds

火患 (hoả hoạn)

References

Nguyễn (2014).
Nguyễn et al. (2009).
Trần (2004).
Bonet (1899).
Génibrel (1898).

[KDJ-1] 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan

[DJR-2] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[tdcndg-3] Nguyễn (2014).

[tdcntd-4] Nguyễn et al. (2009).

[gdhn-5] Trần (2004).

[bonet-6] Bonet (1899).

[genibrel-7] Génibrel (1898).