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热门 (rè mén) — popular thing, hot topic, something in vogue

Definition

热门 is a noun for a 'hot/popular' thing — a trending topic, sought-after major, or in-vogue item. As an attributive (热门话题, 热门专业) it modifies what is currently in demand; hotter than 红, more concrete than 大众.

noun
popular thinghot topicsomething in vogue

Examples

  • 热门。
    Jīn nián de rè mén huà tí shì huán bǎo.
    This year's hot topic is environmental protection.
  • 热门，。
    Zhè ge zhuān yè hěn rè mén, hěn duō xué shēng bào míng.
    This major is very popular; many students apply.
  • ，热门。
    Jié jià rì de shí hou, rè mén jǐng diǎn zǒng shì rén hěn duō.
    During holidays, popular scenic spots are always crowded.

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
门méndoor; field

热 marks something as hot, and 门 points to a field or item, giving popularity.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 門; 门 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 門 pictures a gate as two door shapes side by side; the simplified 门 is a later shorthand.

Open 门 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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