How to say "flame" in Japanese

• 炎ほのおJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe literal flame of a fire — a candle, a campfire, a burning building. The core, most direct word for 'flame' as a noun, and usually the first choice.
  硫黄いおうは青あおい炎ほのおを上あげて燃もえる。↗

  Sulfur burns with a blue flame.
• 火ひJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounPrimarily the general word for 'fire'; its gloss also covers 'flame' and 'blaze', so it works when fire as a whole, rather than the flame specifically, is meant.
  いすをもっと火ひの近ちかくに寄よせなさい。↗

  Draw your chair closer to the fire.
• 火炎かえんCommon
  nounA literal flame or blaze, with a somewhat technical or written character; suits descriptions of fires in news or official contexts. Less usual in casual everyday speech than 炎.
• 火の手ひのてCommon
  expression, nounLiterally 'tongues of fire': flames leaping up from a burning fire, used vividly in describing large fires. Good for dramatic or narrative descriptions of a blaze.
  雨あめで火の手ひのては広ひろがらずにすんだ。↗

  The rain kept the fire from spreading.
• 叩くたたくJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers only the internet sense: to flame someone, i.e. to attack, bash or harshly criticize them online. Not a word for physical flames at all — never use it for actual fire.
  新聞しんぶんは一斉いっせいにその政治家せいじかをたたきはじめた。↗

  The newspapers opened fire on the politician.

Use 炎 or 火 for literal flames, 火炎 or 「火の手」 for vivid blazes in writing or reporting, and 「叩く」 only for the internet sense of 'flame' meaning to attack someone online.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 炎ほのおflame
• 火ひfire
• 火炎かえんflame
• 火の手ひのてflame
• フレームflame
• 炎色えんしょくflame (color, colour)
• 炎光えんこうflame
• 叩くたたくto attack