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热乎 (rè hū) — warm (of food, objects, temperature); warm-hearted, affectionate

Definition

Casual adjective meaning 'warm' — both physical (food, objects) and figurative (an affectionate, lively atmosphere or person). Colloquial register; the literary equivalent for 'warm' temperature is 炎热.

adjective
warm (of food, objects, temperature)warm-heartedaffectionate

Examples

  • 热乎，。
    Zhè wǎn tāng hái rè hū zhe ne, kuài hē ba.
    This bowl of soup is still warm, drink it quickly.
  • 热乎，。
    Tā zhè ge rén tè bié rè hū, dà jiā dōu xǐ huan hé tā liáo tiān.
    He is a very warm-hearted person; everyone likes to chat with him.
  • 热乎。
    Gāng chū lú de miàn bāo mō qǐ lái rè hū de.
    The freshly baked bread feels warm to the touch.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

热rèhot
乎hū

热 contributes the sense of warmth, and 乎 gives it a warm, affectionate tone.

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.

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 →

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

  • 丂丂kǎobranch

The old 乎 paired an element for wind or air with 丂, a branch used as a sound part, and was the original form of the word for 'to call; to cry'.

Open 乎 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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