地热 (dì rè) — terrestrial heat; geothermal energy

Definition

noun

terrestrial heatgeothermal energy

地热。
dì rè Shì yì zhǒng néng yuán.
Geothermal energy is a type of energy.
地热。
Xǔ duō guó jiā lì yòng dì rè lái fā diàn.
Many countries use geothermal energy to generate electricity.
地热。
dì rè Lái zì dì xià.
Geothermal heat comes from underground.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

地 (earth) and 热 (heat) combine to mean heat from the earth.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 熱; 热 is its simplified writing.

埶灬熱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

灬Written in full as火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

埶

埶yì熱rè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 熱 pairs 埶 with 火 (written as 灬) to show heat, while 埶 gives a sound.