音読み: レツ
訓読み: —
画数: 10
部首: 灬（れっか）
Meaning
fierce; intense; violent; blazing
- 強烈 — intense; powerful; striking
- 猛烈 — fierce; violent; extreme
- 烈火 — raging flames; blazing fire
- 烈士 — noble hero; “fierce spirit” person
- 壮烈 — heroic and intense; brave and tragic
The bottom part is the “fire” radical, れっか — flames burning down. The top part gives the sound レツ. Together, 烈 means heat so strong it rages or explodes — fierce, intense, violent.
火 is “fire.” 烈 is fire turned all the way up — explosive, scorching, impossible to ignore. Think of 烈 as fire that leaves a mark.
Creates
強烈 — intense, powerful, strong.