A method for direct patenting of a hot-rolled wire rod comprises the steps of: transporting a hot-rolled wire rod on a conveyer in a state that said wire rod is in a form of continuous series of loops; blasting mist to the surface of said wire rod at least from above and blasting air to the back side of the wire rod from below to cool the wire rod at a rate of 12 DEG C. to 50 DEG C./sec. down to 550 DEG C. to 400 DEG C. during the transportation, the mist provides 200 to 2400 l/min. water and has an air to water ratio of 200 Nm3/m3 or less; and reheating the cooled wire rod at a rate of 3 DEG C./sec. or less, or cooling the cooled wire rod slowly at a rate of 2 DEG C./sec. or less during the transportation. In addition, another method for direct patenting of a hot-rolled wire rod comprises the steps of: transporting a hot-rolled wire rod on a conveyer in a state that the wire rod is in a form of continuous series of loops; cooling, as a first cooling step, the wire rod at a rate of 12 DEG to 40 DEG C./sec. down to 600 DEG C. to 450 DEG C. during the transportation by means of blasting a cooling medium to the wire rod for 5 secs. to 30 secs.; and cooling, as a second cooling step, the cooled wire rod st a rate of 2 DEG C. to 15 DEG C./sec.down to 550 DEG C. to 400 DEG C. during the transportation by means of blasting a cooling medium to the wire rod cooled in the first cooling step for 5 secs. to 30 secs.