How many strokes does the Chinese character "火" (huǒ) have?
"火" has 4 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 火, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 4 strokes
Speed:
Nature & Elements
Name: Use with Caution
Tattoo: Caution Alone
火 Fire in Chinese (huǒ)
Dictionary Summary
火 (huǒ) means fire; urgent; ammunition. Simplified form has 4 strokes under radical 火.
Pinyin & Tonehuǒ (Tone 3)
Simplified / Trad.火 / 火
Radical火
Total Strokes4 strokes
StructureOverlaid / Integral (丷 + 人)
Unicode / LevelU+706B · HSK 2
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “火” in a Chinese Name · Use with Caution (Masculine-leaning)
Rarely used directly in modern Chinese names because 火 literally means fire or anger (发火). For fiery warmth or radiance, native speakers use 炎, 烨, 晨, or 光.
✒️ Using “火” for a Tattoo · Caution Alone
Tattooing standalone 火 often reminds Chinese readers of warning signs (小心火烛) or hotpot spice levels. Better integrated into an idiom or paired with 炎/光.
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: An ancient pictograph of leaping flames rising upward with sparks on each side.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 火 / 火 | huǒ | fire; urgent; ammunition |
| 火 / 火 | Huǒ | surname Huo |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “火”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 花火 | huāhuǒ | sparks; fireworks | |
| 热情似火 | rèqíng-sìhuǒ | warm and passionate like fire | |
| 星火 | xīnghuǒ | a tiny spark |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "火" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Use with Caution (Masculine-leaning). Rarely used directly in modern Chinese names because 火 literally means fire or anger (发火). For fiery warmth or radiance, native speakers use 炎, 烨, 晨, or 光.
Is "火" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Caution Alone. Tattooing standalone 火 often reminds Chinese readers of warning signs (小心火烛) or hotpot spice levels. Better integrated into an idiom or paired with 炎/光.