热辣辣 (rè là là) — burning hot; scorching (of weather, objects, or skin sensation); spicy hot; fiery (of food); sensational; attention-grabbing; emotionally intense (of news, topics, or feelings)

Definition

An adverbial-style adjective built from 辣 ('spicy hot') reduplicated, used as a vivid predicate modifier. Mainly paints heat that the body feels — scorching sun, fiery food, or emotionally sizzling news.

adjective
burning hotscorching (of weather, objects, or skin sensation)spicy hotfiery (of food)sensationalattention-grabbingemotionally intense (of news, topics, or feelings)

Examples

  • 热辣辣。
    Xià tiān de tài yáng shài dé dì miàn rè là là de.
    The summer sun bakes the ground burning hot.
  • 热辣辣，。
    Zhè wǎn miàn chī qǐ lái rè là là de, là dé wǒ zhí mào hàn.
    This bowl of noodles tastes fiery hot — it's so spicy I'm sweating.
  • 热辣辣，。
    Zuì jìn wǎng shàng yǒu yì tiáo rè là là de xīn wén, dà jiā dōu zài tǎo lùn.
    There's a sensational piece of news online lately that everyone's discussing.

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
辣辣intense sensation
辣làspicy辣làspicy

热 gives heat, while 辣辣 adds a burning, prickling intensity.

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
辛辛xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
束
剌là辣là
Same sound today

辣 is built from 辛, which carries the meaning, and 束, written in full as 剌, which carries the sound.

Open 辣 →

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
辛辛xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
束
剌là辣là
Same sound today

辣 is built from 辛, which carries the meaning, and 束, written in full as 剌, which carries the sound.

Open 辣 →

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