rèsōu: 热搜 - Hot Search, Trending Topics

• Keywords: resou, 热搜, shàng rèsōu, Weibo hot search, Chinese trending topics, what does resou mean, hot search list, trending in China, Chinese social media
• Summary: “热搜 (rèsōu)” is a critical term in modern Chinese internet culture, translating to “hot search” or “trending topics.” It refers to the real-time list of the most searched-for and discussed topics on platforms like Weibo, similar to Twitter's “Trending” but with a far greater, centralized impact on public discourse, entertainment, and news consumption in China. Understanding “热搜” is key to understanding what captures the nation's attention on any given day.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rèsōu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A list of the most popular and searched-for topics on a social media platform or search engine at a given time.
• In a Nutshell: “热搜” is the pulse of the Chinese internet. It's the daily list of what's buzzing, from celebrity gossip and new movie releases to social issues and official government announcements. For millions, checking the “热搜榜” (rèsōu bǎng - hot search list), especially on Weibo, is a daily ritual. It dictates conversations, shapes public opinion, and can make or break a public figure's reputation overnight.

• 热 (rè): This character's primary meaning is “hot” or “heat.” In a modern context, just like in English, this meaning extends metaphorically to mean “popular,” “in-demand,” or “trending.” Think of a “hot ticket” item.
• 搜 (sōu): This character means “to search” or “to seek.” It's the same character used in the word for search engine, `搜索引擎 (sōusuǒ yǐnqíng)`.

The two characters combine literally and logically to mean “hot searches”—the topics that are being searched for most frequently.

While the West has trending topics on Twitter/X or Google, “热搜” in China holds a unique and more potent cultural weight. This is primarily due to the dominance of a few super-apps, with Sina Weibo's “热搜榜” (Hot Search List) being the most influential.

• Comparison to Western “Trending”: Unlike the often fragmented and algorithmically personalized trending lists in the West, Weibo's “热搜” feels more like a national bulletin board. It presents a more unified (though not necessarily organic) view of what's considered important. A topic hitting the #1 spot on the “热搜” has an immediate and massive impact, far exceeding a typical trending topic on Western platforms.
• A Double-Edged Sword: “热搜” is a powerful tool. It can be a space for citizen journalism, where public outrage over an issue can force official responses. However, it is also heavily curated and monitored. Controversial topics can be quickly removed (`撤热搜 - chè rèsōu`). Furthermore, it's a highly commercialized space where companies and celebrities can “buy a hot search” (`买热搜 - mǎi rèsōu`) to promote their products or images, leading to public skepticism about its authenticity. It's a battleground for public opinion, celebrity PR, commercial advertising, and state messaging.

“热搜” is a noun and is almost always used in relation to social media. The most common action associated with it is “getting on” the list.

• Common Phrases:
  • 上热搜 (shàng rèsōu): “To get on the hot search.” This is the most common phrase. `上 (shàng)` means “to go up” or “to get on.”
  • 买热搜 (mǎi rèsōu): “To buy a hot search.” Refers to the practice of paying for a spot on the trending list, often with a negative connotation of being inauthentic.
  • 撤热搜 (chè rèsōu): “To remove a hot search.” This implies a topic was deliberately taken down, either by the platform for censorship or by a PR team to handle a crisis.
  • 热搜榜 (rèsōu bǎng): “The hot search list.” `榜 (bǎng)` means “list” or “ranking.”
• In Conversation: It's common for people to ask, “你看今天热搜了吗?” (Nǐ kàn jīntiān rèsōu le ma?) - “Did you see the hot search today?” It's a way to stay current and find common topics for discussion.

• Example 1:
• 今天的热搜第一是什么？
• Pinyin: Jīntiān de rèsōu dì-yī shì shénme?
• English: What is the number one topic on the hot search today?
• Analysis: A very common and straightforward question people ask to catch up on the day's news and gossip.
• Example 2:
• 那个明星又因为一点小事上热搜了。
• Pinyin: Nàge míngxīng yòu yīnwèi yìdiǎn xiǎoshì shàng rèsōu le.
• English: That celebrity got on the trending list again for something trivial.
• Analysis: This uses the key phrase `上热搜 (shàng rèsōu)`. The tone here is slightly exasperated or dismissive, a common sentiment towards celebrity-dominated trending topics.
• Example 3:
• 这件事闹得很大，在热搜上挂了一整天。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì nào de hěn dà, zài rèsōu shàng guà le yī zhěng tiān.
• English: This issue blew up; it was hanging on the hot search list for the entire day.
• Analysis: `挂 (guà)` literally means “to hang,” a vivid verb used to describe a topic staying on the list for a long time.
• Example 4:
• 很多人怀疑这个话题是公司买的热搜。
• Pinyin: Hěn duō rén huáiyí zhège huàtí shì gōngsī mǎi de rèsōu.
• English: A lot of people suspect this topic is a “bought hot search” by the company.
• Analysis: This sentence uses the phrase `买热搜 (mǎi rèsōu)` to express skepticism about the authenticity of a trending topic.
• Example 5:
• 地震的消息很快就成了热搜第一。
• Pinyin: Dìzhèn de xiāoxi hěn kuài jiù chéng le rèsōu dì-yī.
• English: The news of the earthquake quickly became number one on the hot search.
• Analysis: Shows how “热搜” is used for major, breaking news events, not just entertainment.
• Example 6:
• 他们的负面新闻被撤热搜了，现在找不到了。
• Pinyin: Tāmen de fùmiàn xīnwén bèi chè rèsōu le, xiànzài zhǎo bu dào le.
• English: Their negative news was removed from the hot search; you can't find it now.
• Analysis: This demonstrates the concept of `撤热搜 (chè rèsōu)`, often implying censorship or powerful PR intervention.
• Example 7:
• 我每天早上第一件事就是刷一下热搜榜。
• Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang dì-yī jiàn shì jiùshì shuā yíxià rèsōu bǎng.
• English: The first thing I do every morning is scroll through the hot search list.
• Analysis: `刷 (shuā)` means “to brush” or “to swipe/scroll,” the standard verb for browsing social media. This shows how checking the `热搜榜 (rèsōu bǎng)` is a daily habit.
• Example 8:
• 只要能上热搜，他就能一夜成名。
• Pinyin: Zhǐyào néng shàng rèsōu, tā jiù néng yíyè chéngmíng.
• English: As long as he can get on the hot search, he can become famous overnight.
• Analysis: This sentence highlights the perceived power of the “热搜” to create instant fame.
• Example 9:
• 这个新出的梗已经在热搜上流行起来了。
• Pinyin: Zhège xīn chū de gěng yǐjīng zài rèsōu shàng liúxíng qǐlái le.
• English: This new meme is already becoming popular on the hot search.
• Analysis: Shows that “热搜” is also the birthplace and amplifier for internet slang and memes (`梗 - gěng`).
• Example 10:
• 你别总看热搜了，很多信息都没什么营养。
• Pinyin: Nǐ bié zǒng kàn rèsōu le, hěn duō xìnxī dōu méishénme yíngyǎng.
• English: Stop always looking at the hot search; a lot of the information has no substance.
• Analysis: `没什么营养 (méishénme yíngyǎng)` literally means “has no nutrition,” a common metaphor for content that is trivial or junk. This reflects a critical view of the “热搜.”

• Mistake 1: Thinking it's just “trending”.
  • While “trending” is the closest English equivalent, “热搜” implies a more centralized, influential, and often manipulated list. It's not just an algorithm showing what's popular; it's a cultural institution that is actively managed and commercialized. Don't underestimate its power to shape a single, national conversation.
• Mistake 2: Using “热搜” as a verb.
  • “热搜” is a noun. You cannot “热搜” something in the way you can “Google” something.
  • Incorrect: 我要热搜一下这个新闻。(Wǒ yào rèsōu yíxià zhège xīnwén.)
  • Correct: 我要搜一下这个新闻。(Wǒ yào sōu yíxià zhège xīnwén.) - “I'm going to search for this news.”
  • Correct: 这个新闻上热搜了。(Zhège xīnwén shàng rèsōu le.) - “This news got on the hot search.”

• 微博 (Wēibó) - The Twitter-like social media platform that hosts the most influential “热搜榜” in China.
• 吃瓜 (chī guā) - Literally “eating melon.” A popular slang term for watching drama unfold or gossiping, often about events found on the “热搜.”
• 网红 (wǎnghóng) - “Internet celebrity.” People who often gain fame through social media and whose lives are frequently documented on the “热搜.”
• 上热搜 (shàng rèsōu) - The key verb phrase, “to get on the hot search list.” Crucial for understanding usage.
• 热搜榜 (rèsōu bǎng) - The “hot search list” itself. The specific ranked list that people check.
• 头条 (tóutiáo) - “Headlines.” The top items on the “热搜” are often considered the day's top headlines.
• 舆论 (yúlùn) - “Public opinion.” The “热搜” is a major battlefield where public opinion is formed and fought over.
• 公关 (gōngguān) - “Public Relations (PR).” PR teams are heavily involved in trying to get positive stories on the “热搜” or remove negative ones (`撤热搜`).