Taxonomy of meanings for 灰:　　

  • 灰 huī (OC: qhʷɯɯ MC: huoi) 呼恢切 平 廣韻：【説文曰死火也淮南子云女媧積蘆灰而止淫水呼恢切六 】

    Additional information about 灰

    說文解字:

      Criteria
    • ASH

      [[COMMON/RARE]]

      [GENERAL/SPECIFIC]

      [LASTING/TEMPORARY]

      1. The most general word for what is left of something after it is burnt is perhaps the rather rare jìn 燼, and these substances can be cold or still hot.

      [GENERAL]

      2. Huī 灰 refers specifically to cold ashes.

      [SPECIFIC]; [[COMMON]]

      3. Wēi 煨 refers to embers that are still very hot.

      [SPECIFIC], [TEMPORARY]; [[RARE]]

      Compare also SOOT for the dark remnants of something burnt.

      NB: Xiè 灺 refers specifically to what is left of candles etc after they are burnt out and came into use in Tang times (Hán Yù).