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March 24, 2026
发烧(發燒)fāshāo(fa1shao1)
发烧 (fā shāo) means to have a fever, indicating an elevated body temperature typically due to illness. It is commonly used in medical contexts when discussing symptoms of infections or illnesses, and can also refer to feelings of heat due to strenuous activity or emotional states, though the medical context is the most prevalent.
Strokes15Frequency#5839DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing health symptoms like 发烧 is common, especially in familial settings, as it reflects concern for one another's well-being. Traditional remedies, such as herbal medicine, may also be referenced alongside modern medical advice.
Memory Tip
Imagine a thermometer (发) showing a high temperature (烧) like a fire. The character 发 resembles a 'firework' exploding, and when you 'explode' with heat, you have a fever! Think of 'fa' as 'fire' and 'shao' as 'showing heat'.
Meanings of 发烧
fāshāo(fa1shao1)
1to have a high temperature (from illness)
2to have a fever
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About 发烧
发烧Simplified
發燒Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5839Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 发烧
Podcast: 发烧
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AI Study Notes for 发烧
Quick Contrast
发热 (fārè) vs 发烧 (fāshāo): use 发热 when referring to an elevated body temperature without the implication of illness, while 发烧 specifically indicates a fever due to illness.
Usage Notes
When using 发烧, it is important to pair it with a subject that indicates who is experiencing the fever, such as '我发烧' (I have a fever). A common mistake is to confuse it with '感冒' (gǎn mào), which means to have a cold; they refer to different conditions. Be mindful of tone, as both syllables are first tone and must be pronounced accurately.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 发烧 is useful for discussing health and illness, connecting to other related vocabulary like 医生 (yī shēng, doctor) and 病 (bìng, illness). Students should focus on constructing simple sentences to describe symptoms and seek help.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 发烧 with 头痛 (tóu tòng, headache) or assume it can be used interchangeably with feeling warm due to exercise. Correct usage would be: '我发烧了' (I have a fever), not '我发烧是头痛' (I have a headache).
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Pronunciation of 发烧
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How to say to have a high temperature (from illness) in Chinese
“to have a high temperature (from illness)” in Chinese is发烧fāshāo
发烧 (fā shāo) means to have a fever, indicating an elevated body temperature typically due to illness. It is commonly used in medical contexts when discussing symptoms of infections or illnesses, and can also refer to feelings of heat due to strenuous activity or emotional states, though the medical context is the most prevalent.
When to use 发烧
When using 发烧, it is important to pair it with a subject that indicates who is experiencing the fever, such as '我发烧' (I have a fever). A common mistake is to confuse it with '感冒' (gǎn mào), which means to have a cold; they refer to different conditions. Be mindful of tone, as both syllables are first tone and must be pronounced accurately.
发烧 or something close to it
发热 (fārè) vs 发烧 (fāshāo): use 发热 when referring to an elevated body temperature without the implication of illness, while 发烧 specifically indicates a fever due to illness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 发烧 with 头痛 (tóu tòng, headache) or assume it can be used interchangeably with feeling warm due to exercise. Correct usage would be: '我发烧了' (I have a fever), not '我发烧是头痛' (I have a headache).
Write 发烧
发
烧
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Grammar Patterns of 发烧
发烧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
在寒冷彻骨的海上，基茨开始____，不断地咯血。
On the chilly seas, Keats became feverish, continually coughing up blood.
