熱

A phono-semantic compound:

火 (“fire”) — semantic element, indicating heat, burning, warmth.

埶 (ye / yì, yì, “ability, skill”) — phonetic element.

The character originally depicted heat/fire energy and by extension came to mean hot in temperature and metaphorically fervent, passionate.

熱氣 (열기) — heat, hot air

發熱 (발열) — fever, to have a temperature

熱心 (열심) — zeal, enthusiasm

熱情 (열정) — passion, fervor

炎熱 (염열) — scorching hot

酷熱 (혹열) — extreme heat

In traditional Chinese medicine, 熱 is one of the fundamental pathogenic states, opposed to 寒 (“cold”). Disorders of “internal heat” (內熱) are associated with fever, irritability, and inflammation.

In literary usage, 熱 is often extended metaphorically to describe ardent emotions (熱愛 “fervent love,” 熱情 “passion”), not just physical warmth.

In Buddhist texts, 熱 may symbolize the burning torments of desire or suffering in contrast to the cooling peace of Nirvana.