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烈 (liè), meaning "intense", "fierce", or "violent", is a phono-semantic compound. The semantic component is the four-dot fire radical 灬 at the bottom, indicating the character's connection to fire. The phonetic component 列 (liè) at the top originally meant "to split" or "to arrange". This combination initially depicted a raging, uncontrollable fire that seemed to split or tear through its surroundings. From this image of an aggressively burning flame, the meaning extended metaphorically to describe extreme weather, potent alcoholic drinks, powerful emotions, and the unyielding, heroic bravery of martyrs or individuals with uncompromising moral integrity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
烈日当空照。
他性格很刚烈。
会场里气氛很热烈。
战士们与敌人展开了激烈战斗。
他的言辞中流露出强烈的爱国情感。
这股强烈的飓风造成了巨大的破坏。
面对如此猛烈的攻击，防线很快就被突破了。
这场思想领域内新旧观念的激烈冲突，是时代变迁的缩影。