耐热 (nài rè) — heat-resistant, able to withstand high temperat…

Definition

Adjective meaning a material can withstand high temperatures without damage. Usually modifies a noun (e.g. 耐热玻璃, 耐热容器) or follows 非常 as a predicate.

adjective

heat-resistant, able to withstand high temperatures

耐热。
Zhè zhǒng nài rè bō li kě yǐ fàng jìn kǎo xiāng.
This kind of heat-resistant glass can go in the oven.
耐热。
Zuò cài shí qǐng yòng nài rè róng qì.
When cooking, please use a heat-resistant container.
耐热，。
Zhè zhǒng cái liào fēi cháng nài rè, bú huì biàn xíng.
This material is very heat-resistant and won't deform.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

耐nàiwithstand

耐 means withstand and 热 means heat, so the word describes resisting 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.

而寸耐

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

而

而ér耐nài

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

耐 puts 而 on the left and 寸 on the right: 而 gives the sound, and 寸 gives the sense.

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.