Explanation at your level:
You use this word to say two people are very close. If you see a mom hugging her baby, they are 亲热. It is a very nice word for love and friendship.
When friends or family members are being sweet to each other, they are 亲热. You can say '他们很亲热' to mean 'they are very affectionate'. It is a common word in daily life.
This word describes the physical and emotional warmth between people. It is often used to describe couples who are happy together. It is more than just being friends; it implies a deeper, more demonstrative bond.
In this level, you recognize that 亲热 can describe both overt physical displays of affection and the general atmosphere of a relationship. It is useful for describing social dynamics in literature or casual conversation.
At this level, you understand the nuance of 亲热 as it relates to social propriety. While it denotes warmth, it can sometimes imply a level of intimacy that is best kept private. It is a versatile word for describing human connection.
Mastery of this word involves understanding its etymological roots in 'warmth' and 'intimacy'. You can use it to describe the subtle shift in relationships or to contrast it with more formal terms like 亲密 (intimate/close) or 友好 (friendly).
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means affectionate or intimate.
- Used for people/animals.
- Casual/Neutral tone.
- Combines 'dear' and 'heat'.
The word 亲热 (qīn rè) is a beautiful way to describe closeness. Think of it as the feeling of warmth when you are with your favorite people.
It combines 亲 (intimate/dear) and 热 (hot/warm). When you are 亲热, you are showing that you really care about someone through your actions.
You will often see this used for couples, but it also applies to parents and children. It is all about that cozy, loving energy that makes a relationship feel special.
The term 亲热 has deep roots in the Chinese language. The character 亲 originally referred to the closeness of family members, emphasizing blood ties and deep affection.
The character 热 literally means heat. In ancient Chinese philosophy, heat was often associated with life, vitality, and emotional intensity. By combining these, the word evolved to represent the 'warmth' of human connection.
Historically, this term moved from describing strict family bonds to broader expressions of intimacy. It reflects how language adapts to describe the nuance of human emotions over centuries of social change.
You use 亲热 when you want to describe a warm, loving vibe. It is very common in daily life to describe how two people are interacting.
Commonly, you might say someone is 表现得非常亲热 (behaving very affectionately). It is a neutral-to-casual term that fits well in most social settings, though it can sound a bit private depending on the context.
Be careful not to use it in overly formal business reports, as it refers to personal intimacy rather than professional closeness.
1. 亲热劲儿: The 'vibe' of being affectionate. Example: 看他们那亲热劲儿！ (Look at how affectionate they are!)
2. 打得火热: To be very intimate or 'hot' with someone. Example: 他们最近打得火热。 (They have been very close lately.)
3. 亲密无间: Intimate and without a gap. Example: 他们关系亲密无间。 (They are extremely close.)
4. 相亲相爱: To love and be close to each other. Example: 一家人相亲相爱。 (The family loves each other.)
5. 如胶似漆: Like glue and lacquer, very inseparable. Example: 两人如胶似漆。 (The two are inseparable.)
亲热 functions mainly as an adjective. You can use it after 'very' (很亲热) or to describe a noun phrase (亲热的举动).
The pronunciation is 'qīn' (first tone) and 'rè' (fourth tone). The stress is usually balanced, though 'rè' carries a slightly sharper emphasis.
It does not have plural forms or complex conjugations, making it quite straightforward for learners to use in basic sentence structures.
Fun Fact
The 'heat' character suggests that love is a warm, living force.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'chin-ruh'
Sounds like 'chin-ruh'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'r' in 're'
- Wrong tone on 'qin'
- Flat intonation
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
很亲热
Adverbial '地'
亲热地
Subject-Predicate
他们亲热
Examples by Level
他们很亲热。
They are very affectionate.
Subject + Adjective
妈妈和孩子很亲热。
Mom and child are close.
Subject + Adjective
他们看起来很亲热。
They look very affectionate.
Verb + Adjective
别这么亲热。
Don't be so affectionate.
Imperative
我们很亲热。
We are very close.
Subject + Adjective
他很亲热地打招呼。
He greeted me affectionately.
Adverbial use
大家都亲热。
Everyone is affectionate.
Subject + Adjective
那是亲热的表现。
That is a sign of affection.
Noun phrase
他们俩总是很亲热。
猫和狗也可以很亲热。
不要在公共场合太亲热。
他们亲热地聊天。
爷爷奶奶很亲热。
我喜欢这种亲热的感觉。
他们看起来像亲热的家人。
他们变得越来越亲热。
他们之间的亲热让人羡慕。
他们表现得非常亲热。
他并不习惯在人前表现得太亲热。
这种亲热的氛围很温馨。
他们亲热地拥抱在一起。
他们俩的亲热劲儿还没过呢。
保持亲热的关系很重要。
他们亲热地谈论着未来。
尽管他们吵架了，但很快又恢复了亲热。
那种亲热是装出来的。
他用亲热的语气跟我说话。
他们之间存在一种自然的亲热。
这种亲热的举动引起了注意。
她对每个人都表现得很亲热。
他们保持着一种亲热但有距离的关系。
他们亲热地靠在一起看电影。
他们那种亲热的互动显得有些刻意。
在这样的场合，他们表现得过于亲热了。
这种亲热不仅是身体上的，更是心灵上的。
他试图用亲热的态度来掩盖尴尬。
他们之间那种亲热的默契令人感动。
这种亲热的表达方式在他们文化中很常见。
尽管多年未见，他们依然显得很亲热。
他们那种亲热劲儿让周围的人感到些许不适。
这种亲热的羁绊是他们多年友谊的基石。
她那种亲热的姿态在社交场合游刃有余。
他们之间那种心照不宣的亲热令人深思。
这种亲热的互动在文学作品中常被用来刻画人物。
他那种亲热的做派有时会让人觉得虚伪。
他们那种亲热的氛围在寒冬里显得格外温暖。
这种亲热的表达方式折射出他们深厚的情感。
他们之间那种亲热的互动，超越了简单的言语交流。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"打得火热"
Very intimate
他们最近打得火热。
casual"亲密无间"
Extremely close
他们亲密无间。
formal"如胶似漆"
Inseparable
他们如胶似漆。
literary"相亲相爱"
Loving each other
相亲相爱的一家人。
neutral"亲如一家"
Close as family
他们亲如一家。
neutral"形影不离"
Inseparable
他们形影不离。
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean close
亲密 is deeper/more formal
亲密关系 vs 亲热行为
Both involve closeness
亲近 is about proximity
亲近大自然
Both mean nice
友好 is just friendly
友好邻居
Both mean warm
亲切 is about attitude
亲切的微笑
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 很 + 亲热
他们很亲热。
Subject + 亲热地 + Verb
他们亲热地聊天。
Subject + 看起来 + 亲热
他们看起来很亲热。
Subject + 表现得 + 亲热
他表现得非常亲热。
亲热的 + Noun
那是亲热的举动。
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
亲热 implies physical or emotional intimacy, not just professional rapport.
亲近 means to be close to someone, 亲热 means to act affectionately.
亲热 is too informal for academic or business reports.
Objects cannot be 'affectionate'.
It's not just 'near', it's 'warmly near'.
Tips
The Heat Trick
Remember 'hot' (热) means warm love.
Public Displays
Use it to describe public affection.
Privacy
Chinese culture values privacy.
Adverb Use
Use '地' for adverbial forms.
Tone Practice
Practice the 1st and 4th tones.
Don't use for business
Keep it for friends.
Warmth
It implies a warm heart.
Flashcards
Use photos of hugs.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Hot' (热) 'Dear' (亲) hug.
Visual Association
A warm fire between two people.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe your best friend using this word.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Warmth of intimacy
Cultural Context
Can be seen as private; avoid using in very formal settings.
Similar to 'affectionate' or 'cuddly'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Family
- 亲热的拥抱
- 一家人很亲热
Couples
- 表现得亲热
- 看起来很亲热
Friends
- 亲热地打招呼
Social
- 不要太亲热
Conversation Starters
"Do you think it's okay to be 亲热 in public?"
"How do you show you are 亲热 with family?"
"Is it easy to be 亲热 with new friends?"
"What is the most 亲热 thing you've seen?"
"Do you like being 亲热?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt 亲热.
Describe a 亲热 moment in a movie.
Why is being 亲热 important?
How do you show 亲热 to your parents?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a positive word for affection.
No, that would be inappropriate.
No, it works for family too.
qīn rè.
Yes.
Yes, '很亲热'.
No, it's quite casual.
Yes, in an affectionate way.
Test Yourself
他们看起来很___。
They look affectionate.
Which means 'affectionate'?
亲热 is the word for affectionate.
Can I use '亲热' in a business contract?
It is too informal.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms.
Subject + Adverb + Adjective.
Score: /5
Summary
亲热 is a warm, affectionate term for close relationships.
- Means affectionate or intimate.
- Used for people/animals.
- Casual/Neutral tone.
- Combines 'dear' and 'heat'.
The Heat Trick
Remember 'hot' (热) means warm love.
Public Displays
Use it to describe public affection.
Privacy
Chinese culture values privacy.
Adverb Use
Use '地' for adverbial forms.
Example
他们俩一见面就表现得很亲热。
