隔热 (gé rè) — to insulate (against heat)

Definition

Verb meaning to block or insulate against heat, used for materials, windows, or building treatments. A technical term, more specific than the general 'insulate' — it always targets heat, not cold or sound.

verb
to insulate (against heat)

Examples

  • 隔热。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ gé rè.
    This material can insulate against heat.
  • ，。
    Chuāng hu yǐ jīng gé le rè, suǒ yǐ wū lǐ hěn liáng kuai.
    The windows are already insulated, so the room is very cool.
  • 隔热。
    Wǒ men xū yào gěi fáng zi zuò gé rè chǔ lǐ.
    We need to do insulation treatment for the house.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

隔géblock
热rèheat

隔, block, and 热, heat, combine to mean insulating against 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fùwall
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬲
鬲gé隔gé
Same sound today

隔 puts 阝, a wall, with 鬲, which gives the sound gé, to show separating with a wall.

Open 隔 →

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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