抽烟
to smoke (a cigarette)
chōuyān
What does 抽烟 mean?
抽烟 (chōuyān) is a separable verb-object phrase meaning 'to smoke (tobacco),' literally 'to draw/pull smoke' (抽 = to draw out, 烟 = smoke/cigarette). It is the common colloquial way to talk about smoking cigarettes in daily speech. Because it is separable, you can split it: 抽一支烟 ('smoke one cigarette') or 抽根烟 (casual).
Two differences from English: 'smoke' in English covers cigarettes, pipes, and even meat-smoking, but 抽烟 refers specifically to smoking tobacco through inhalation; and unlike the English intransitive 'to smoke,' 抽烟 already contains its object 烟, so 'do you smoke?' is 你抽烟吗? The written or formal equivalent 吸烟 is preferred on official signs and in health contexts, while 抽烟 dominates casual conversation.
Note: 抽烟 is the everyday spoken term. In formal notices and signage, the more written 吸烟 appears, as in 禁止吸烟 ('No Smoking').
Character breakdown
to draw out; to pull; to draw in (a breath)
smoke; cigarette; tobacco
Memory hook: You 'draw' (抽) the 'smoke' (烟) into your lungs — that's smoking.
Example sentences
你抽烟吗？
Nǐ chōuyān ma?
Do you smoke?
spoken
这里不能抽烟。
Zhèlǐ bù néng chōuyān.
You can't smoke here.
spoken
医生建议他别再抽烟了。
Yīshēng jiànyì tā bié zài chōuyān le.
The doctor advised him to stop smoking.
neutral
他出去抽了一支烟。
Tā chūqù chōu le yì zhī yān.
He went out and had a cigarette.
spoken
Common phrases with 抽烟
Synonyms
吸烟 is the formal/written equivalent, used on signs, in laws, and health messaging. 抽烟 is what people actually say in conversation. Same meaning, different register.
Don't confuse 抽烟 with
FAQ
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