‘高温’ literally means 'high temperature' — 高 (gāo) means 'high' or 'elevated', and 温 (wēn) means 'temperature' or 'warmth'. Together, they form a compound noun used primarily in scientific, medical, and everyday contexts to describe unusually elevated heat levels. It is commonly used in weather reports, health advisories, industrial safety guidelines, and cooking instructions.

The term often carries implications of risk or discomfort: for example, ‘高温天气’ refers to heatwave conditions that may cause heat exhaustion, while ‘高温消毒’ means sterilization using high heat. Unlike the more general word ‘热’ (rè, 'heat'), ‘高温’ emphasizes measurable, often extreme or functionally significant temperature levels — typically above normal human comfort or standard environmental ranges (e.g., above 35°C). It rarely appears in emotional or metaphorical expressions.