'升温' literally means 'to rise in temperature' — 升 (shēng) means 'to rise, to increase', and 温 (wēn) means 'temperature' or 'warmth'. As a verb, it describes the physical process of something getting warmer, such as water heating up on a stove or the weather becoming milder. It’s commonly used in daily life when talking about cooking, weather changes, or medical contexts.

Figuratively, '升温' is widely used to describe intensifying situations — for example, rising tensions between countries, growing enthusiasm for an event, or increasing public interest in a social issue. This metaphorical usage is very common in news reports and formal speech, where abstract concepts are described using temperature-related verbs. While the literal sense is neutral and factual, the figurative use often carries connotations of escalation — sometimes positive (e.g., enthusiasm), sometimes negative (e.g., conflict).