fung1烽
Jyutpingfung1
Yalefūng
Definition
Beacon fire or smoke used as a military alarm in ancient times.
writtenother
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively encountered in literary or historical contexts, particularly in the compound 烽火. It carries a strong sense of urgency and historical weight, often used to evoke imagery of ancient warfare rather than modern military communication. You will rarely hear it used in casual daily conversation unless discussing history or literature.
Examples
In ancient times, there were often smoke signals at the borders.
With war raging everywhere, the common people lived in great misery.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 風, which sounds similar but refers to wind. Learners often misread 烽火 as 風火, which would imply a fire caused by wind rather than a military signal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
