狂热 (kuáng rè) literally combines 狂 (kuáng, 'wild', 'frenzied') and 热 (rè, 'hot', 'enthusiastic'), creating a compound meaning 'fanatical enthusiasm' or 'obsessive passion'. It describes an intense, often irrational level of excitement or devotion—stronger than ordinary enthusiasm but lacking the positive connotation of zeal. It frequently carries a slightly negative or cautionary tone, implying loss of objectivity or balance.

This word is commonly used to describe extreme devotion to hobbies, ideologies, celebrities, sports teams, or political movements. As a noun, it appears after classifiers (e.g., 一种狂热) or with verbs like 有 or 表现; as an adjective, it modifies nouns directly (e.g., 狂热的球迷). While it can occasionally appear in neutral contexts (e.g., scientific curiosity), it more often signals excess, intensity, or even danger when unchecked.