Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Burning hot / Scorching: Refers to an extremely high temperature that can cause a burning sensation upon touch, such as the sun, fire, or hot liquids.
   • Burning / Fiery (physical sensation): Describes an intense, feverish, or inflamed feeling in a part of the body, like a sore throat.
   • Hot / Pressing / Urgent: Used figuratively to describe an issue, topic, or situation that is of critical, immediate importance and generates intense interest or concern.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Temperature):
  • Mặt trời nóng bỏng. (A scorching sun.)
  • Chén nước trà nóng bỏng. (A cup of burning hot tea.)
• Adjective (Sensation):
  • Họng nóng bỏng. (A burning / fiery throat.)
• Adjective (Figurative):
  • Vấn đề nóng bỏng. (A burning / pressing / hot issue.)

Advanced Usage

• The figurative use is common in journalism and formal discussion to highlight topics that are currently controversial, critically important, or demand immediate attention.

Variants and Related Words

• Nóng (adj): Hot (in temperature). Less intense than "nóng bỏng."
• Bỏng (n/v): Burn (injury) / to scald. The core meaning of "bỏng" contributes to the intensity of "nóng bỏng."

Synonyms

• Scorching, sizzling, blistering (for temperature).
• Urgent, critical, pressing, hot-button (for issues).

Related Idioms

• While "nóng bỏng" itself is often used as a standalone descriptive phrase, it is the key component in expressions like (hot-button issue) or (breaking news).

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