温暖 (wēn nuǎn) — (adjective) warm; (verb) to warm (something)

Definition

温暖 (wēnnuǎn) is a slightly more literary, evocative 'warm' — used for both temperature and figurative warmth (a warm feeling, a warm welcome). 暖和 is the plain everyday word for pleasant warmth; 温馨 is for an atmosphere that feels cozy and homey.

adjective

warm

verb

to warm (something)

Examples

温暖。
Zhè ge fáng jiān hěn wēn nuǎn.
This room is very warm.
温暖。
Mā ma de rè tāng wēn nuǎn le wǒ de xīn.
Mom's hot soup warmed my heart.
温暖。
Péng you de huà ràng wǒ jué de hěn wēn nuǎn.
My friend's words made me feel very warm.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

温wēnwarm

暖nuǎnwarm

The two elements 温 and 暖 both mean warm, reinforcing the sense of warmth.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 溫; 温 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 溫 is based on an older form 𥁕, which drew a person bathing in a container full of warm water. The simplified 温 is a later variant.

Open 温 →

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

日爰暖

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

爰

爰yuán暖nuǎn

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

暖 is made from 日, the sun, and 爰, which is used for its sound.

Open 暖 →

Appears in