KanjiJLPT N2
Flame

inflammation, flame, blaze

Mnemonic

One fire burns on the ground. A second fire ignites directly on top of it. Stacking fire upon fire doesn't just double the heat—it transforms into something far more ferocious: a towering flame that roars skyward, devouring everything it touches.
Additional thoughts
Visualize two bonfires merging vertically, one balanced on the other, erupting into a single massive pillar of flame. The kanji literally looks like the fire radical repeated twice, one on top of the other.
Quick recall
Stack fire on fire and unleash a roaring flame.

Details

The keyword for 炎 is flame. This kanji represents the concept of blazing fire or intense flames, depicted by the image of one fire stacked upon another, suggesting a roaring, intensified blaze. It conveys the idea of fierce, leaping flames rather than a small or controlled fire. By extension, it can also refer to inflammation or burning passion.
On'yomi
えん
Kun'yomi
ほのお

Used in kanji