烫

tàng

HSK 6

烫 — tàng

1. to scald; to burn (by hot liquid or steam)

   小心别被热油烫到。 xiǎoxīn bié bèi rèyóu tàng dào — Be careful not to get scalded by the hot oil.

2. to blanch (briefly cook in boiling water and then cool)

   把青菜放水里烫一下，保持颜色鲜绿。 bǎ qīngcài fàngshuǐ lǐ tàng yīxià bǎochí yánsè xiānlǜ — Blanch the greens in boiling water for a moment to keep their bright color.

3. to heat (something) up in hot water

   把牛奶放在热水里烫一会儿再给宝宝喝。 bǎ niúnǎi fàngzài rèshuǐ lǐ tàng yīhuìer zài gěi bǎobǎo hē — Heat the milk in hot water for a while before giving it to the baby.

4. to perm (hair)

   她上周去美发店烫了头发，看起来很精神。 tā shàngzhōu qù měifādiàn tàng le tóufà kànqǐlái hěn jīngshén — She got a perm at the salon last week and looks great.

5. to iron (clothes) — colloquial; also used for professional ironing/pressing

   我明天要出差，得把衬衫烫平整。 wǒ míngtiān yào chūchāi dé bǎ chènshān tàng píngzhěng — I have a business trip tomorrow; I need to iron my shirts neatly.

6. scalding hot; very hot (to the touch or taste)

   这汤很烫，小心别喝太快。 zhè tāng hěn tàng xiǎoxīn bié hē tài kuài — This soup is very hot; be careful not to drink it too quickly.