Common Usage & Traps
- 热天 — hot day
- 热水 — hot water
- 很热 — very hot
- 热茶 — hot tea
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热冷冷热Chinese conventionally orders this pair as 冷热 (cold and hot), not 热冷.
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热人很热的人热人 is not a standalone word; to describe a person as hot in temperature, use 很热的人.
热
Scorching heat or high temperature from fire. Hot, feverish, popular, or to heat something up. A hand (扌) holds a round seed (丸) over a fire (灬) to create warmth.
How do you use 热 and 冷 correctly in everyday Chinese?
热 means hot, 冷 means cold; they are opposites and often paired as 冷热.
热 (rè) describes high temperature, while 冷 (lěng) describes low temperature. When talking about temperature in general, Chinese often pairs them as 冷热 (cold and hot). Avoid reversing the order or misplacing adverbs.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Order in phrase | 冷热 | 热冷 |
| Describing weather | 今天很热 | 今天热很 |
| Describing objects | 热水 | 热的水 |
What is the difference between 热 and 熟?
热 means hot (temperature), 熟 means cooked or familiar.
热 (rè) refers to high temperature, like hot water. 熟 (shú) means cooked (as in food) or familiar (as in a person). They look similar but have different radicals and meanings.
| Dimension | 热 (rè) | 熟 (shú) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | hot | cooked; familiar |
| Example | 热水 (hot water) | 熟肉 (cooked meat) |
| Radical | 灬 (fire) | 灬 (fire) but different component |
Appears in Stories 9 stories
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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老先生天天来，买一杯 热茶 。
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茶不 热 了，老先生回家。
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大中想：“老先生天天来，茶不 热 了也不喝，他天天在看什么呢？”
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大中听了，看那杯不 热 的茶，觉得老先生很好。
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大中很高兴，做了一杯 热茶 ，给老先生喝。
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今天， 热茶 做好了，请您喝。”
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老先生坐在七号桌子前，喝了第一口 热茶 。
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今天，茶是 热 的。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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现在是北京的七月，天气很 热 。
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“现在是下午，天气太 热 “。
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“我喜欢 热 天气。
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妈妈也喜欢 热 天气。
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儿子对我说：“学校今天真的很 热 、很 热 ”。
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爸爸说了今天太 热 ”。
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太 热 了！
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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老先生天天都给大中做 热 面条。
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今天外边太冷了，我给你做 热 面条。”
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老先生给大中做好了 热 面条。
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大中吃了 热热的 面条，觉得今天晚上一点儿也不冷了。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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但是事实上：无论是使用 热风 干燥还是通过油炸干燥，方便面中的水分含量都很低，一般都低于2%。
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它的一个优点就是具有较高的 热 稳定性。
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我们通常说， 加热 食品的时候，最高不能超过200℃。
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前面说过有的方便面是 热风 干燥，那它的含油量更是几乎可以忽略不计。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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这个季节，日照时间很长，所以也很 热 。
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可是今年很奇怪，天上很少有云，也很少下雨，一直非常 热 。
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小李想，要是天气还这么 热 ，还不下雨，整个森林都要烧没了。
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
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我坐在桌前，在喝一杯茶，一杯 热热的 茶。
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你有 热 茶喝吗？
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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副总说您尝尝， 趁热 ，今天的肉不错。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
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爸爸喝 热茶 妈妈吃冷菜。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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不冷，也不 热 。
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