热水

• Pinyin: rè shuǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 热 = 埶 (art) + 灬 (fire) — hot; 水 = pictograph of flowing water

Meaning

Hot water. Water that has been heated.

In Chinese culture, drinking hot water is deeply ingrained as a daily habit believed to promote health and digestion. Unlike Western countries where cold water is the norm, Chinese people commonly drink 热水 or warm water (温水) throughout the day, regardless of season. This is also offered as a remedy for various ailments.

Examples

1. 服药时最好用热水送服。 It's best to take medicine with hot water.
2. 她习惯每天早上起来先喝一杯热水。 She's in the habit of drinking a glass of hot water first thing every morning.
3. 这家酒店二十四小时供应热水。 This hotel provides hot water twenty-four hours a day.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, health, hospitality

Tone: everyday

Do Say

• 多喝热水。(Drink more hot water.)
• 请给我一杯热水。(Please give me a cup of hot water.)

Don't Say

• 不要对不舒服的人只说'多喝热水' (This phrase has become an internet joke for unhelpful advice — while well-intentioned, it can seem dismissive)

Origin & History

Simple compound of 热 (hot) and 水 (water). A basic and essential term in daily Chinese life.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal