热带 (rè dài) — the tropics (the region between the Tropic of C…

Definition

热 means hot, so 热带 is the hot climate zone near the equator. Contrast with 温带 (temperate zone) — cooler, with distinct seasons.

noun

the tropics (the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn)(attributive) tropical

热带。
Wǒ míng nián xiǎng qù rè dài lǚ yóu.
I want to travel to the tropics next year.
热带。
rè dài Dì qū yǒu hěn duō wǒ men méi jiàn guò de zhí wù.
The tropics have many plants we haven't seen before.
热带。
Zhè lǐ de rè dài qì hòu ràng wǒ hěn bù xí guàn.
The tropical climate here makes me very uncomfortable.

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.

带dàibelt/zone

热 'hot' describes the 带 'belt/zone', giving the tropical belt.

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 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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.

Appears in