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热气 (rè qì) — steam; hot vapor; hot gas/air; (figurative) fervor, enthusiasm (as in 热气腾腾)

Definition

Literally 'hot air/vapor' (一股热气) — the literal meaning is steam or hot gas, as in a steaming pot. The figurative sense ('fervor, enthusiasm') is fixed in the idiom 热气腾腾 and similar phrases, not used alone for abstract enthusiasm.

noun
steamhot vaporhot gas/air(figurative) fervorenthusiasm (as in 热气腾腾)
Measure word · 股

Examples

  • 热气。
    Zhè guō tāng hái zài mào rè qì.
    This pot of soup is still steaming.
  • ，。
    Shì chǎng shàng rè qì téng téng, fēi cháng rè nao.
    The market is bustling with activity.
  • ，热气。
    Dà jiā gōng zuò rè qíng hěn gāo, rè qì shí zú.
    Everyone's work enthusiasm is high, full of fervor.

Origin

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.

热rèhot
气qìair

Hot air: 热 gives the temperature and 气 gives the vapor or gas.

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.

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.

Open 热 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
Materials & SubstancesPhysics & Chemistry

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