热 (rè) means "hot" with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: hot
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
热 is not found in oracle bone inscriptions. The traditional form 熱 is a phono-semantic compound appearing in bronze and seal script: the 火 radical at the bottom (written as 灬) supplies the meaning of fire or heat, while 埶 at the top supplies the sound. 埶 itself originally depicted a person kneeling to plant a sapling.
Form evolution
In seal script 熱 shows the full 埶 component clearly above 灬. Clerical script regularised the strokes but kept the structure, and traditional 熱 continues this form. The simplified 热 replaces 埶 with 执 (itself a simplification), keeping the 灬 base that still signals fire.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning was literal heat or warmth produced by fire. It extended to bodily heat (fever, 发热), to emotional intensity (热情 passionate, 热爱 to love ardently), and to social popularity or trendiness (热门 hot topic, 热搜 trending search). Modern Mandarin uses all these senses actively.
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine 热 is one half of the 寒热 (cold-hot) diagnostic pair that classifies illnesses and foods. A common learner error is treating 热 as only a temperature word; in phrases like 热闹 (lively, bustling) and 眼热 (envious) the heat is entirely metaphorical.
Basic info
| Pinyin | rè |
| Meanings | hot |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #400 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 热
On the new HSK 1 exam
Studying for HSK 1? Keep 热 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.