熏 xūn to smoke
to smoke; to cure meat; to fumigate
How to remember 熏: ㇒ falling stroke + 一 one + 囗 enclosure + 丷 horns + 一 one + 丨 line + 一 one + 灬 fire = to smoke. With one falling stroke of his axe Grandpa splits a log along a line, hangs ham from horns in the enclosure and lights a fire to smoke it.
Component breakdown
熏 = ㇒ falling stroke + 一 one + 囗 enclosure + 丷 horns + 一 one + 丨 line + 一 one + 灬 fire
- ㇒ falling stroke
- 一 one
- 囗 enclosure
- 丷 horns
- 一 one
- 丨 line
- 一 one
- 灬 fire
With one falling stroke of his axe Grandpa splits a log along a line, hangs ham from horns in the enclosure and lights a fire to smoke it.
How it came to be
The oldest form, in bronze, is a tied bag with dots inside, perhaps herbs; the fire below was added later.
How it is used
- To smoke/fumigate, and to be affected by a smell or influence: 熏肉 (xūnròu) smoked meat, 烟熏 (yānxūn) smoke-cured, 被烟熏得流泪 (smoked out until crying).
- 熏陶 (xūntáo) is figurative: to be positively influenced/nurtured over time: 文化熏陶 (wénhuà xūntáo) cultural immersion.