燥热 (zào rè) — hot and dry

Definition

燥热 (zàorè) is a verb/adjective for weather or bodily sensations that feel 'hot and dry' — drier than 炎热 (which only means hot/sweltering). Often describes climates or feverish feelings.

verb
hot and dry

Examples

  • 燥热，。
    Jīn tiān tiān qì zào rè, ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    Today's weather is hot and dry, making people very uncomfortable.
  • 燥热，。
    Zhè ge dì qū xià jì zào rè, dōng jì hán lěng.
    This region has hot and dry summers and cold winters.
  • 燥热，。
    Tā gǎn dào yí zhèn zào rè, kě néng shì fā shāo le.
    He felt a wave of hot and dry heat; maybe he has a fever.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

燥zàodry
热rèhot

燥热 describes hot and dry weather, from 燥 'dry' and 热 'hot'.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
喿
喿zào燥zào
Same sound today

燥 is built from 火 (fire) and 喿, which gives its sound.

Open 燥 →

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 →

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