热 rè hot
hot; warm-hearted; popular
How to remember 热: 执 hold on to + 灬 fire = hot. At camp the boy tries to hold on to his metal skewer over the fire, then drops it yelling "Ouch, too hot!"
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 埶 + 火
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
热 = 执 hold on to + 灬 fire
- 执 hold on to shape only
- 灬 fire meaning
At camp the boy tries to hold on to his metal skewer over the fire, then drops it yelling "Ouch, too hot!"
How it came to be
The fire at the bottom gives the meaning; the top part gave the sound, and simplification swapped it for a simpler part.
How it is used
- Literally 'hot' (temperature): 天很热 (tiān hěn rè) the weather is hot, 加热 (jiārè) to heat up.
- Figuratively it's warmth of feeling and popularity: 热情 (rèqíng) warm/enthusiastic, 热爱 (rè'ài) love passionately, 热门 (rèmén) popular/in-demand.
- 热闹 (rènao) means lively/bustling: a positive buzz of activity, said of streets, parties, markets.
Words with 热
- 热情rèqíngenthusiasticHSK 3
- 热闹rènaobustlingHSK 4
- 加热jiārèto heatHSK 5
- 热心rèxīnenthusiasticHSK 5
- 热烈rèlièenthusiasticHSK 5
- 热爱rè’àito love ardentlyHSK 5
- 热量rèliàngheatHSK 5
- 炎热yánrèblistering hotHSK 6
- 热度rèdùlevel of heatHSK 6
- 热水器rèshuǐqìwater heaterHSK 6
- 热点rèdiǎnhot spotHSK 6
- 热线rèxiànhotline (communications link)HSK 6
- 热议rèyìto discuss passionatelyHSK 6
- 热门rèménpopularHSK 6
- 亲热qīnrèaffectionateHSK 7
- 发热fārèto have a high temperatureHSK 7
- 火热huǒrèfieryHSK 7
- 热带rèdàithe tropicsHSK 7
- 忽冷忽热hūlěng-hūrènow hot, now coldHSK 8
- 灼热zhuórèburning hotHSK 9
- 热泪盈眶rèlèi-yíngkuàngeyes brimming with tears of excitementHSK 9
- 热潮rècháowave of enthusiasmHSK 9
- 热腾腾rèténgténgsteaming hotHSK 9
- 热衷rèzhōngto feel strongly aboutHSK 9
- 热销rèxiāoto sell wellHSK 9
- 狂热kuángrèzealotryHSK 9
- 闷热mēnrèsultryHSK 9
Example sentences
- 今天太热了！ Jīntiān tài rè le!It's so hot today!
- 天气太热，他们出了很多汗。 Tiānqì tài rè, tāmen chūle hěn duō hàn.It's too hot, and they have been sweating a lot.
- 她们看的故事书很热门。 Tāmen kàn de gùshishū hěn rèmén.The story books they read are very popular.
- 这里的人民很热情。 Zhèli de rénmín hěn rèqíng.The people here are very enthusiastic.