火 炎(かえん)

かえん

noun

flame; blaze

1. flame; blaze; fire

Intense, visible fire or flames. A more dramatic and literary word than 炎, often used in technical, literary, or compound terms.

火炎(かえん)が上(あ)がった。

Flames shot up.

建物(たてもの)が火炎(かえん)に包(つつ)まれた。

The building was engulfed in flames.

消防士(しょうぼうし)たちは激(はげ)しい火炎(かえん)の中(なか)で懸命(けんめい)に消火活動(しょうかかつどう)を続(つづ)けた。

The firefighters continued their firefighting efforts amid the intense flames.

A more dramatic or technical synonym of 炎(ほのお). Composed of 火(か) (fire) + 炎(えん) (flame). Often found in compound words and technical terms rather than everyday conversation.

Common collocations

火炎(かえん)に包(つつ)まれる: to be engulfed in flames
火炎(かえん)放射器(ほうしゃき): flamethrower
火炎瓶(かえんびん): Molotov cocktail; fire bomb
火炎(かえん)土器(どき): flame-style pottery (Jomon-era pottery with flame-like decorations)

Similar words

炎(ほのお): flame — the standard everyday word for flames
火(ひ): fire — the most basic and general word
炎上(えんじょう): going up in flames; also used figuratively for online backlash

Cultural note

火炎(かえん)土器(どき) is a famous type of Jomon-period pottery with elaborate flame-shaped rims, discovered mainly in Niigata Prefecture. It is considered a masterpiece of prehistoric art.

Related Words

Compare: 炎上(えんじょう) (going up in flames)

general

Added 2026.3.28 21:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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