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热情 (rè qíng) — enthusiastic, warm, cordial

Definition

热情 describes a person's manner: warm, friendly, and full of energy toward others. 亲切 is gentler, more about feeling close and familiar; 热烈 is stronger and used for events or atmospheres (热烈的掌声).

adjective
enthusiasticwarmcordial

Examples

  • 热情。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn rè qíng de rén.
    She is a very warm person.
  • 热情。
    Tā men fēi cháng rè qíng dì huān yíng wǒ men.
    They welcomed us very enthusiastically.
  • 热情。
    Tā duì péng you hěn rè qíng.
    He is very warm towards friends.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

热rèhot; warm
情qíngfeeling

热 conveys warmth or intensity applied to 情, giving enthusiastic feeling.

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 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

Grammar

Appears in
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