热能 (rè néng) — thermal energy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

thermal energy

Examples

热能。
Tài yáng néng bǎ guāng néng zhuǎn huà wèi rè néng.
Solar energy converts light energy into thermal energy.
热能。
Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ chǔ cún dà liàng rè néng.
This material can store a large amount of thermal energy.
热能。
rè néng Shì wù lǐ xué yán jiū de zhòng yào lǐng yù.
Thermal energy is an important area of physics research.

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.

The 能 (energy) of 热 (heat).

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.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Appears in

Energy & Power Physics & Chemistry

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