“热点 (rèdiǎn)”, “热词 (rècí)”, “汉语热 (hànyǔrè)” and “健身热 (jiànshēnrè)”

Yesterday, May 6, 2015, was a special day called 立夏(Lì xià),” the seventh solar term of the 24 Chinese Solar Terms This is the day that marks the beginning of the hot summer in China. These days,
the maximum air temperatures of most cities in south China exceed 30°C (86°F)! Can you feel the “热 (rè) heat”?
Stroke order:

In Chinese, “热 (rè)” can be used to describe burning hot weather, but this term is also often used to describe certain popular and trending activities, such as “汉语热 (hànyǔrè) Mandarin fever,” “健身热 (jiànshēnrè) fitness fad,” “股票热 (gǔpiàorè) stock craze,” “旅游热 (lǚyóurè) travel fever,” and “出国热 (chūguórè) craze of going abroad,” etc..

This term refers to the phenomenon that more and more people around the world are getting interested in Chinese learning. Reasons for “汉语热 (hànyǔrè)” vary: some people learn Mandarin to take on the challenge of learning this unique language, some need it for their jobs, some for traveling around China, and others simply for their interest in Chinese history and culture.
No matter what their learning purposes are, there is no denying that the number of Mandarin learners has been increasing in recent years, especially for those in European and American countries. Do you have many friends who have taken up an interest in learning Chinese?

Jìnniánlái chūxiànle “hànyǔrè”, hěnduō wàiguórén xuǎnzé zài wǎngshàng xuéhànyǔ!
近年来     出现了    “汉语热”，很多     外国人        选择    在   网上           学汉语！
In recent years, “Mandarin fever” has arisen, and many foreigners are choosing to learn Mandarin online!

Zuìjìn wǒmen gōngsī chūxiànle “jiànshēnrè”.
最近   我们    公司     出现了    “健身热”。
A new “fitness fad” has popped up in our company recently.

Fāng Méi: Wǒ tīngshuō lǎozhāngde érzi yě chūguó le.
方梅：       我  听说       老张的       儿子也  出国    了。
Fang Mei: I hear that Zhang’s son has also gone abroad.

Hú Dōng:  Duì’a.  Bàozhǐshàng dōu shuō xiànzài hěnduōrén chūguó, zhè jiào “chūguórè”.
胡冬：      对啊。 报纸上          都    说     现在   很多人       出国，   这   叫  “出国热”。
Hu Dong: Yeah. It’s in all the newspapers that now a lot of people are going abroad. It is called “going abroad fever.”

Additionally, “热(rè)” means “popular.” For example, “热点(rèdiǎn) hotspot” and “热词(rècí) popular word.” There are also some collocations with the term like “网络热词(wǎngluò rècí) buzzwords,” “年度热词(niándù rècí) word of the year,” “新闻热点(xīnwén rèdiǎn) hot news,” “社会热点(shèhuì rèdiǎn) social hotspots,” and so on.

“网络热词(wǎngluò rècí)” is also called “网络流行语(wǎngluò liúxíngyǔ) network buzzword.” As a lexical phenomenon, it reflects the widely concerning things or issues of a country or an area in a certain period. Examples of such buzzwords are “有钱，任性(yǒuqián, rènxìng),” which shows the common irony towards the lavish lifestyles of rich people, and “裸婚(luǒhūn),” which reflects the heavy living pressure people face and emphasizes the freedom and independence that come with marriage.

“Bīngtǒng tiǎozhàn” shì 2014niánde niándù rècí.
“冰桶         挑战”      是  2014年的     年度    热词。
“Ice Bucket Challenge” was the term of the year for 2014.

Lín Xīn píngshí hěn guānzhù shèhuì rèdiǎn.
林新     平时     很    关注       社会    热点。
Lin Xin is often in-the-know about social hotspots.

Lǐ Xīn hé péngyou liáotiān shí xǐhuan yòng yìxiē zuìxīnde wǎngluò rècí.
李心   和  朋友      聊天     时  喜欢    用     一些 最新的  网络      热词。
Li Xin likes to use the newest buzzwords when chatting with his friends.

1. Which “热(rè)” in the following phrases refers to a certain “trending activity”?
A. “出国热(chūguórè)”
B. “社会热点(shèhuì rèdiǎn)”
C. “热词(rècí)”
2. If more and more people around you start to learn Chinese, it’s a sign of _____.
A. “汉语热(hànyǔrè)”
B. “学习热(xuéxírè)”
C. “读书热(dúshūrè)”
3. As a lexical phenomenon, “网络热词(wǎngluò rècí)” reflects _____.
A. what sells best online of a country or an area within a certain period
B. the widely concerning issues of a country or an area within a certain period
C. the widely popular TV drama of a country or an area in a certain period