Chinese Character: 炉
1. Character Basics
Radical: 火 (huǒ, fire radical)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lú (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Stove; furnace; oven; burner
4. Common Words
- 火炉 (huǒlú) - stove
- 锅炉 (guōlú) - boiler
- 电炉 (diànlú) - electric stove
- 火炉子 (huǒlúzǐ) - small stove
- 炉子 (lúzi) - stove
- 高炉 (gāolú) - blast furnace
- 烤炉 (kǎolú) - oven
- 壁炉 (bìlú) - fireplace
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "炉" is primarily used as a noun referring to various types of stoves, furnaces, or ovens. It is often combined with other characters to specify the type of stove or furnace. In Chinese grammar, it typically functions as a classifier for certain heating devices.
6. Cultural Background
In traditional Chinese culture, the stove (火炉) holds special significance, especially in northern China where it is used for heating during cold winters. The "Kitchen God" (灶神, Zàoshén) is a traditional Chinese deity associated with the stove and hearth, who is believed to protect the household. Traditional Chinese cooking often uses specialized stoves designed for woks, which are still common in many households today.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 冬天，我们在壁炉前取暖。
Pinyin: Dōngtiān, wǒmen zài bìlú qián qǔnuǎn.
English: In winter, we keep warm in front of the fireplace.
8. Memory Tips
The character 炉 consists of 火 (huǒ, fire) on the left and 户 (hù, household) on the right. You can remember this character by associating the fire radical with heat and imagining a stove or furnace in a household. The right part "户" provides the pronunciation clue, as the "h" sound in "hù" is similar to the "l" sound in "lú".