Meaning
热衷 means to have a strong enthusiasm or passion for something, often to the point of being devoted or even obsessed with it. It combines 热 (hot, passionate) and 衷 (inner feelings, heart), literally meaning 'hot in one's heart.' It describes someone who actively pursues or engages in an activity with great interest and dedication.
Usage
热衷 is typically followed by 于 (yú) to introduce the object of enthusiasm, as in 热衷于 + activity/interest. It's used in both neutral and slightly negative contexts—while it can simply mean 'very interested in,' it sometimes implies excessive devotion or being overly absorbed in something. Commonly used in formal writing and spoken Chinese to describe hobbies, interests, or pursuits.
Examples
- 01他热衷于收集古董，每个周末都去古玩市场。, .He is enthusiastic about collecting antiques and goes to the antique market every weekend.
- 02很多年轻人热衷于网络游戏，常常忘记时间。, .Many young people are keen on online games and often lose track of time.
Characters
Common collocations
- 热衷于to be enthusiastic about (most common pattern)
- 热衷追求to be keen on pursuing
- 热衷参与to be enthusiastic about participating
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 热 (heat, passion) with 衷 (inner heart, sincere feelings), creating a term that literally means '热in one's heart.' This metaphorical use of temperature to describe emotional intensity is common in Chinese.