xīyān: 吸烟 - To Smoke (Cigarettes)

• Keywords: 吸烟, xiyan, smoking in China, how to say smoke in Chinese, Chinese smoking culture, smoke a cigarette in Chinese, no smoking in Chinese, 香烟, 抽烟, 禁止吸烟.
• Summary: Learn how to say “to smoke” in Mandarin Chinese with the essential verb 吸烟 (xīyān). This comprehensive guide explores not just the translation, but the deep cultural significance of smoking in China—from its role in social bonding and business etiquette to the country's modern public health campaigns. Discover practical examples, key related vocabulary like “cigarette” (香烟), and crucial phrases like “No Smoking” (禁止吸烟) to help you understand and navigate real-world social situations in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xīyān
• Part of Speech: Verb (Verb-Object Compound)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or other tobacco product.
• In a Nutshell: 吸烟 (xīyān) is the standard and most direct way to say “to smoke” in Mandarin. It's a compound word literally meaning “to inhale smoke.” While the term itself is simple, its usage is tied to complex social rituals, especially among men, involving respect, social networking (guanxi), and tradition. Understanding this term is key to grasping a significant, though evolving, aspect of modern Chinese culture.

• 吸 (xī): To suck, inhale, breathe in, or absorb. The radical on the left is 口 (kǒu), meaning “mouth,” indicating an action performed with the mouth. The right part, 及 (jí), provides the sound.
• 烟 (yān): Smoke, mist, cigarette, or tobacco. The radical on the left is 火 (huǒ), meaning “fire,” which is the source of smoke. The right part, 因 (yīn), contributes to the sound.
• Combined Meaning: The characters join logically to form “inhale smoke” (吸+烟), a literal and easily remembered description of the act of smoking.

In China, smoking has traditionally been much more than a personal habit; it's a deeply ingrained social ritual.

• Social and Business Lubricant: Offering a cigarette is a common icebreaker and a sign of respect, goodwill, and friendliness, particularly among men. It's akin to offering to buy someone a drink in Western cultures. In business settings, sharing high-quality cigarettes can be a way to establish rapport and build 关系 (guānxi), or social connections. Declining a cigarette should be done politely to avoid causing offense, for example, by saying “谢谢，我不会抽” (Xièxiè, wǒ bù huì chōu - “Thanks, I don't know how to smoke”).
• A Symbol of Masculinity and Camaraderie: Smoking has long been associated with masculinity in China. The act of sharing cigarettes is a gesture of brotherhood and is central to male bonding. Conversely, smoking among women has traditionally been far less common and, in some conservative contexts, stigmatized.
• Contrast with Western Culture: While smoking in the West is now largely seen as a private and often stigmatized health choice, in China, it has retained a strong communal and public element. However, this is rapidly changing. With growing health awareness and strict government regulations, the Western view of smoking as a personal health issue is becoming more prevalent, especially among the younger, more educated urban population.

As China modernizes, the context for 吸烟 is changing.

• Public Smoking Bans: In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, strict smoking bans are in effect for all indoor public spaces, including restaurants, offices, and public transport. You will frequently see signs that say 禁止吸烟 (jìnzhǐ xīyān) - “No Smoking” or “Smoking is Prohibited.”
• Declining Prevalence: While China still has the world's largest population of smokers, public health campaigns and a greater awareness of health risks (吸烟有害健康 - xīyān yǒuhài jiànkāng - “Smoking is harmful to health”) are having an impact. Smoking is becoming less fashionable among younger Chinese.
• Social Etiquette: If you are a smoker, it's polite to offer a cigarette to your male companions before lighting up your own. If you don't smoke, a polite refusal is perfectly acceptable and increasingly common.

• Example 1:
  • 对不起，这里禁止吸烟。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, zhèlǐ jìnzhǐ xīyān.
  • English: Sorry, smoking is prohibited here.
  • Analysis: This is a common and polite phrase you will hear from staff in public places or see on signs.
• Example 2:
  • 我爸爸吸烟吸了三十多年了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba xīyān xī le sānshí duō nián le.
  • English: My dad has been smoking for over thirty years.
  • Analysis: The verb 吸 is repeated here (“吸烟吸了…”) to add an adverbial phrase describing duration. This is a common grammatical structure to describe how an action is performed.
• Example 3:
  • 吸烟有害健康，你应该戒烟。
  • Pinyin: Xīyān yǒuhài jiànkāng, nǐ yīnggāi jièyān.
  • English: Smoking is harmful to your health; you should quit.
  • Analysis: A standard public health message. This sentence pairs 吸烟 with its direct antonym, 戒烟 (jièyān), “to quit smoking.”
• Example 4:
  • 他问我：“你吸烟吗？”
  • Pinyin: Tā wèn wǒ: “Nǐ xīyān ma?”
  • English: He asked me, “Do you smoke?”
  • Analysis: A simple, direct question used to ascertain someone's smoking habits.
• Example 5:
  • 为了孩子的健康，请不要在家里吸烟。
  • Pinyin: Wèile háizi de jiànkāng, qǐng bùyào zài jiālǐ xīyān.
  • English: For the sake of the children's health, please don't smoke at home.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 吸烟 in a request or command using “请不要” (qǐng bùyào - please don't).
• Example 6:
  • 很多年轻人认为吸烟不酷了。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén rènwéi xīyān bù kù le.
  • English: Many young people think smoking isn't cool anymore.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the changing social attitudes towards smoking in modern China.
• Example 7:
  • 飞机起飞前，他在吸烟区抽了最后一根烟。
  • Pinyin: Fēijī qǐfēi qián, tā zài xīyān qū chōu le zuìhòu yī gēn yān.
  • English: Before the plane took off, he had one last cigarette in the smoking area.
  • Analysis: Here, 吸烟 is used as an adjective to describe a noun: 吸烟区 (xīyānqū - smoking area).
• Example 8:
  • 虽然医生告诉他不要吸烟，但他就是不听。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán yīshēng gàosù tā bùyào xīyān, dàn tā jiùshì bù tīng.
  • English: Although the doctor told him not to smoke, he just wouldn't listen.
  • Analysis: This example shows 吸烟 used in a negative command within a more complex sentence structure.
• Example 9:
  • 在中国的一些农村地区，男人聚在一起吸烟聊天是很常见的。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó de yīxiē nóngcūn dìqū, nánrén jù zài yīqǐ xīyān liáotiān shì hěn chángjiàn de.
  • English: In some rural areas of China, it's very common for men to gather to smoke and chat.
  • Analysis: This highlights the communal, social aspect of smoking that is still prevalent in certain contexts.
• Example 10:
  • 他把刚点燃的香烟掐灭了，决定不再吸烟。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ gāng diǎnrán de xiāngyān qiāmiè le, juédìng bù zài xīyān.
  • English: He extinguished the cigarette he had just lit and decided not to smoke anymore.
  • Analysis: Shows the decision to stop the general habit of 吸烟.

• Verb-Object Structure: 吸烟 is a “verb-object” compound word, where 吸 (xī) is the verb (“to inhale”) and 烟 (yān) is the object (“smoke”). Because 烟 is already the object, you cannot add another object directly after it.
  • Incorrect: 我吸烟一支香烟。(Wǒ xīyān yī zhī xiāngyān.)
  • Correct: 我抽了一支香烟。(Wǒ chōu le yī zhī xiāngyān.) or 我吸了一支烟。(Wǒ xī le yī zhī yān.)
  • Explanation: The verb to use when specifying a quantity of cigarettes is usually 抽 (chōu) or just 吸 (xī), not the full compound 吸烟.
• 吸烟 (xīyān) vs. 抽烟 (chōuyān): These two terms are largely interchangeable and both mean “to smoke.” 抽 (chōu) means “to draw out/pull,” which also vividly describes the action. In daily conversation, 抽烟 (chōuyān) is extremely common, perhaps even more so than 吸烟. 吸烟 can feel slightly more formal and is often used in written contexts, signs, and health warnings. For a beginner, they can be treated as synonyms.

• 抽烟 (chōuyān) - A very common synonym for 吸烟, frequently used in spoken language.
• 香烟 (xiāngyān) - Cigarette (lit. “fragrant smoke”). The most common thing one smokes.
• 戒烟 (jièyān) - To quit smoking. The direct opposite of starting to smoke.
• 二手烟 (èrshǒuyān) - Secondhand smoke (lit. “second-hand smoke”).
• 烟民 (yānmín) - Smoker; a colloquial term for people who smoke (lit. “smoke citizen”).
• 打火机 (dǎhuǒjī) - Lighter (lit. “strike fire machine”).
• 禁止吸烟 (jìnzhǐ xīyān) - No Smoking. A ubiquitous sign in public places.
• 吸烟区 (xīyānqū) - Smoking area.
• 尼古丁 (nígǔdīng) - Nicotine (a phonetic loanword).
• 关系 (guānxi) - Social connections/network; a core cultural concept often reinforced by the ritual of sharing cigarettes.