热衷

• Pinyin: rè zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 热 = 灬 + 执 (fire + grasp — intense heat); 衷 = 衣 + 中 (clothing + middle — the heart within the chest)

Meaning

To be passionately devoted to; to be keenly enthusiastic about. Implies a strong, persistent personal interest in something, sometimes to an obsessive degree.

Can be neutral or subtly negative (suggesting obsession). Used with 于: 热衷于摄影, 热衷于钻研. In classical usage, 热衷 often referred to an obsessive pursuit of fame or power, lending a slightly cautionary tone in formal writing.

Examples

1. 她自幼热衷于天文观测，立志长大后成为一名探索宇宙奥秘的科研人员。 She has been passionate about stargazing since childhood and has long been determined to become a researcher who explores the mysteries of the universe.
2. 他热衷于研究各地方言的历史演变，数十年如一日地在田野间记录濒危的口头语言遗产。 He is deeply devoted to studying how local dialects have evolved over time, spending decades in the field documenting endangered oral language heritage day after day.
3. 部分官员热衷于形象工程而忽视民生实际需求，此类现象已引起上级部门的高度重视和严肃查处。 Some officials are overly keen on image-building projects while neglecting real public needs; this has already drawn close attention and serious investigation from higher authorities.

Usage Guide

Context: hobbies, career, society, criticism

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位年届七旬的老教授仍热衷于将最新的学术研究成果转化为通俗易懂的科普文章，惠及广大普通读者。(This professor, now in his seventies, remains passionately devoted to translating the latest academic research into accessible popular-science articles that benefit the general public.)
• 年轻一代越来越热衷于探索非遗手工艺，许多人利用业余时间拜师学习漆器、刺绣和竹编等传统技艺。(The younger generation is increasingly devoted to exploring intangible cultural heritage crafts, with many spending their spare time apprenticing to learn traditional skills such as lacquerware, embroidery, and bamboo weaving.)

Don't Say

• 我热衷你 — use 我非常喜欢你 or 我对你充满热情; 热衷 requires 于 when followed by an object and cannot be used to describe feelings toward a person directly

Origin & History

热 (heat/passion) + 衷 (inner heart/sincere feeling) — one's inner heart burning with passion

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal