加温 (jiā wēn) — to raise the temperature (literal); to strengthen, intensify, reinforce (figurative)

Definition

加温 (jiā wēn) literally means to raise the temperature (heat something up), but it is also widely used figuratively to mean 'intensify or reinforce' a situation, like 加热. Distinguish from 加热, which focuses on making something physically hot for use.

verb
to raise the temperature (literal)to strengthenintensifyreinforce (figurative)

Examples

  • ，加温。
    Tiān lěng le, xū yào gěi fáng jiān jiā wēn.
    It's cold, we need to heat up the room.
  • ，。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng jiā guò wēn le, shuǐ kuài kāi le.
    I've already heated it; the water is almost boiling.
  • 加温。
    Zhè zhǒng cuò shī kě yǐ gěi shì chǎng jìng zhēng jiā wēn.
    This kind of measure can intensify market competition.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

加jiāadd/increase
温wēntemperature

加 means add/increase and 温 means temperature, so something becomes warmer or stronger.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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 溫; 温 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 溫 is based on an older form 𥁕, which drew a person bathing in a container full of warm water. The simplified 温 is a later variant.

Open 温 →

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