Chinese Character: 冷
1. Character Basics
Radical: 冫 (ice radical)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lěng (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Cold; chilly; cool; frigid; frosty; icy; unfeeling; indifferent; aloof; detached; cold-blooded; cheerless; uninhabited; desolate; cold storage; to cool down; to chill; to get cold
4. Common Words
- 冷天 (lěngtiān) - cold weather
- 冷水 (lěngshuǐ) - cold water
- 寒冷 (hánlěng) - cold; frigid
- 冷静 (lěngjìng) - calm; cool-headed; composed
- 冷漠 (lěngmò) - indifferent; cold; unfeeling
- 冷笑 (lěngxiào) - sneer; cold laugh
- 冷藏 (lěngcáng) - cold storage; refrigeration
- 冷冰冰 (lěngbīngbīng) - icy cold; frigid; cold and detached
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "冷" is primarily used as an adjective meaning "cold" or describing something with a low temperature.
Grammar Patterns:
- 冷 + noun: 冷天 (cold weather), 冷水 (cold water)
- very + 冷: 很冷 (very cold)
- 冷 + 得 + complement: 冷得发抖 (lěng de fādǒu) - so cold that one trembles
- 重叠形式: 冷冰冰 (lěngbīngbīng) - icy cold
- Can be used metaphorically to describe people's attitudes: 冷漠 (indifferent), 冷酷 (cold-hearted)
6. Cultural Background
The character "冷" has important cultural significance in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and daily life.
In traditional Chinese medicine, "冷" (cold) is considered one of the six pathogenic factors that can cause illness.
The concept of "coldness" is associated with yin energy in Chinese philosophy, representing coolness, darkness, and passivity.
In Chinese cuisine, there's a distinction between "hot" and "cold" foods based on traditional beliefs about their effect on the body's balance.
The idiom "冷若冰霜" (lěng ruò bīngshuāng) meaning "cold as ice and frost" describes someone who is very cold and indifferent.
In Chinese literature and art, the character is often used to create atmosphere, describing lonely, desolate, or melancholic scenes.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 今天天气很冷，记得多穿点衣服。
Pinyin: Jīntiān tiānqì hěn lěng, jìde duō chuān diǎn yīfu.
English: The weather is very cold today, remember to wear more clothes.
8. Memory Tips
The character "冷" (lěng) consists of two parts:
- The radical "冫" (ice radical) on the left
- The component "令" (lìng) on the right
To remember the character, think of "令" (order/command) combined with "冫" (ice) to represent the concept of cold temperature.
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization.
Associate the character with common words like "冷水" (cold water) and "冷天" (cold weather) to reinforce its meaning.
Notice how the character can be used both literally (describing temperature) and metaphorically (describing attitudes).