() — hot (of weather, food, or objects)

Definition

热 covers 'hot' broadly — weather, objects, food, even people's bodies or a bath. 辣 is for spicy taste only; 暖和 is the milder 'warm', used for pleasant weather or clothing.

adjective
hot (of weather, food, or objects)

Examples

  • Jīn tiān hěn rè.
    It's hot today.
  • Shuǐ tài rè le, yí huì r zài hē.
    The water is too hot; drink it later.
  • Fàn shì rè de.
    The rice is hot.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Written in full ashuǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
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.

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