HSK · Level 2
130 words
Chinese word
热气
Pronunciation
Pinyinrè qì
Meaning
- nounsteam
Example
碗里冒着热气，小心烫到手。wǎn lǐ mào zhe rè qì xiǎo xīn tàng dào shǒu
Steam is coming off the bowl, so be careful not to burn your hand.
More examples
开窗时，屋里突然冒出热气。kāi chuāng shí wū lǐ tū rán mào chū rè qì
When the window was opened, steam suddenly came out of the room.
Core concept
Warm moisture and air rising from something heated, especially food or a drink.
Common phrases
冒出热气mào chū rè qì
steam comes out
腾起热气téng qǐ rè qì
steam rises
散发出热气sǎn fā chū rè qì
emit steam
Similar words
水汽shuǐ qì: Water vapor present in the air is often invisible.
蒸汽zhēng qì: High-temperature steam produced by boiling or heating water.
雾气wù qì: A thin, visible white mist formed when water vapor cools into tiny drops.
Definition in Chinese
因加热而从物体表面升起的水蒸气或带有热量的空气，常用于描写饭菜、热饮等冒出的蒸汽现象。yīn jiā rè ér cóng wù tǐ biǎo miàn shēng qǐ de shuǐ zhēng qì huò dài yǒu rè liàng de kōng qì cháng yòng yú miáo xiě fàn cài rè yǐn děng mào chū de zhēng qì xiàn xiàng
Word origin
热 (rè, "hot") + 气 (qì, "air or gas") literally describes the warm air or vapor that rises from a heated object.
Usage tips
- In English, "steam" often suggests visible vapor, whereas 热气 (rèqì, "steam or warm air") also covers the warmth felt above hot food or a drink.
Other meanings
- heatnoun
- warm airnoun
Opposites
- 冷气lěng qìcool airnoun
- 寒气hán qìcold airnoun
Related words
- 热气球rè qì qiúhot-air balloonnoun
- 热气腾腾rè qì téng téngsteaming hotidiom
- 热气流rè qì liúrising air currentnoun