Japanese kanji for fire: 火 — writing, readings, words
The Japanese kanji for fire is 火, 4 strokes, N5 level. It is read as "hi" (kun'yomi ひ) and "ka" (on'yomi カ). "Fire in Japanese" is 火 (hi), flame is 炎 (honō). The same character appears in Tuesday 火曜日 (kayōbi) — "day of fire", and in 花火 (hanabi) — fireworks, literally "flowers of fire".
火 — four strokes that show a bonfire: the vertical flame and sparks on the sides. From this character, the Japanese grew fireworks — 花火, "flowers of fire". One of the most accurate names for a phenomenon that language has ever devised.
How to write the Japanese kanji for fire
- Meaning
- fire
- Onyomi
- カ
- Kunyomi
- ひ、-び、ほ-
- strokes
- 4
N5 level, 4 strokes. Click "Show order" — in them you can see a campfire with sparks on the sides.
火 and 炎 — fire and flame
火 (hi) — fire as a phenomenon and as a source: match, gas burner, conflagration. 炎 (honō) — flame, tongue of fire; it is two 火 signs one above the other, that is, "fire doubled". In anime and titles, 炎 is more often used: it looks hotter.
Words with the fire kanji
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 火ひ | hi | Fire, flame, light |
| 炎ほのお | honō | Flame |
| 花火はなび | hanabi | Fireworksliterally "flowers of fire" |
| 火曜日かようび | kayōbi | Tuesday"day of fire" |
| 火山かざん | kazan | Volcano"fire mountain" |
| 火事かじ | kaji | Fire (conflagration) |
| 火災かさい | kasai | Fire (official) |
The fire sign inside other kanji
At the bottom, 火 often turns into four dots — 灬: 熱 (heat), 煮 (to boil). On the left, it remains almost unchanged: 焼 (to grill), 灯 (lamp). If you see these four dots at the base of a character, it is most likely about heating.
Write 火 yourself
FAQ
How is 火 read and in which words does it appear?
火 — 4 strokes, N5 level. Kun'yomi ひ (hi), on'yomi カ (ka): 火曜日 kayōbi "Tuesday", 火山 kazan "volcano".
How does 火 differ from 炎?
火 (hi) — fire as a phenomenon or source. 炎 (honō) — flame, tongue of fire; the character consists of two 火 one above the other and sounds more poetic.
Why are fireworks "flowers of fire"?
花火 consists of 花 "flower" and 火 "fire": the Japanese described a flash in the sky as a blossoming flower. It is read "hanabi".
What are the four dots at the bottom of kanji?
This is 灬 — a compressed form of 火 in the lower position: 熱 "heat", 煮 "to boil", 蒸 "to steam". The sign indicates that it is about heating.
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