放热 (fàng rè) — (verb-object) to release heat, to give off heat; (noun) exothermic (used in compounds such as 放热反应)

Definition

放热 (fàngrè) means 'to release heat' — used as a verb-object phrase or as a noun meaning 'exothermic' in chemistry compounds like 放热反应 (exothermic reaction).

verb
(verb-object) to release heatto give off heat
noun
exothermic (used in compounds such as 放热反应)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè zhǒng diàn chí fàng le hěn duō rè.
    This type of battery gave off a lot of heat.
  • 放热。
    Jī qì zài yùn xíng shí huì bú duàn fàng rè.
    The machine will continuously release heat while running.
  • 放热，。
    Zài jìn xíng fàng rè fǎn yìng shí, yào dài hǎo shǒu tào.
    When conducting an exothermic reaction, wear gloves properly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

放fàngrelease
热rèheat

放 means release and 热 means heat, together giving off 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
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

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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