Refers to flames or a blaze, often used in formal, technical, or news contexts. Can describe literal fire or metaphorical intense situations.
Flames engulfed the building.
The building was engulfed in flames.
A flamethrower is a powerful weapon.
Flames rose up from the factory.
The dragon breathed flames.
火 is the general word for fire in any form, while 火炎 specifically emphasizes the visible, blazing flames.
火災 refers to a fire as a destructive disaster or incident, while 火炎 refers to the flames themselves, not the event.
Standard kanji spelling, common in news and formal contexts.
Variant kanji form using 焔; less common than 火炎.
Compound of 火 (fire) and 炎 (flame), reinforcing the idea of a blazing fire. The variant 火焔 uses the character 焔, which also means flame.