How to Write 烛 (zhú) — Meaning “candle”

Imagine a candle (火) with a worm (虫) stuck inside the wax, burning slowly. The worm represents the 虫 component, and the fire radical reminds you that a candle produces flame. This visual makes it easy to recall both the form and meaning.

When writing 烛, first write the left radical 火 (fire) as three strokes: dot, then a short left-to-right stroke, then a longer stroke. Then on the right, write 虫 starting with the middle vertical line, making sure the final dot is placed below the last horizontal stroke. A common mistake is making the 火 radical too wide or forgetting the dot in 虫.

烛 (candle) has a fire radical on the left and 虫 on the right, while 炅 (bright) has fire on top and 日 (sun) below, and 炆 (warm) has fire on the left and 文 (text) on the right. The meanings are completely different: 烛 relates to a candle, 炅 describes sunlight or brightness, and 炆 means gentle warmth or cooking over low heat.

烛 appears in common words like 蜡烛 (candle) and 烛光 (candlelight). It is often used in romantic or solemn contexts, such as candlelight dinners or memorial ceremonies. In Chinese culture, 烛光 also symbolizes warmth, hope, or the passing of time.

Common words containing 烛 include: 蜡烛 (là zhú) — candle; 烛光 (zhú guāng) — candlelight; 烛台 (zhú tái) — candlestick; candle holder.