烫

燙
tàng
汤 + 火
HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

tàng (verb) to scald; to burn (by scalding)
tàng (verb) to heat in hot water; to blanch
tàng (verb) to iron; to perm
tàng (adjective) scalding hot

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 汤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 燙.

Semantic: 火 Phonetic: 汤

About

烫 is a phono-semantic compound simplified from 燙, combining the meaning of fire (火) with the sound of 汤 (tāng). As an adjective, it describes something scalding hot or hot enough to burn. As a verb, it means to burn or scald oneself with a hot substance, and it extends to modern uses like ironing clothes and perming hair through applied heat.

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈做的汤很烫。

Māma zuò de tāng hěn tàng.

The soup mom made is very hot.

小心别烫到手。

Xiǎoxīn bié tàng dào shǒu.

Be careful not to burn your hand.

他被热水烫伤了。

Tā bèi rèshuǐ tàngshāng le.

He was scalded by hot water.

我喜欢烫直头发。

Wǒ xǐhuan tàng zhí tóufa.

I like to straighten my hair.

这碗面太烫了，没法吃。

Zhè wǎn miàn tài tàng le, méi fǎ chī.

This bowl of noodles is too hot to eat.

烫衣服的时候要小心熨斗。

Tàng yīfu de shíhou yào xiǎoxīn yùndou.

Be careful with the iron when ironing clothes.

为了避免烫伤，他戴上了厚手套。

Wèile bìmiǎn tàngshāng, tā dàishàng le hòu shǒutào.

To avoid scalding, he put on thick gloves.

烫发之前，理发师会询问你的需求。

Tàngfà zhīqián, lǐfàshī huì xúnwèn nǐ de xūqiú.

Before perming hair, the hairdresser will ask about your needs.

Related Characters

Component: 汤

荡 铴

Component: 火

灵 炮 灭 烟 炸 伙 灯 秋 烧 爆 烦 灰 炎 灾

Example Words

滚烫 烫伤 烫发 发烫 麻辣烫 氽烫 火烫 熨烫 热烫 烫平 烫衣 烫金 烫头发