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cold

lěng
7 strokes · 冫 (ice radical) + 令 · HSK 1

Where 冷 comes from

冷 = 冫 (the 'ice' radical — two strokes for frozen drops) + 令 (for the sound). The ice radical 冫 is a frostier cousin of the water radical 氵; wherever you see those two little ice-strokes, think cold: 冷 (cold), 冰 (ice), 凉 (cool).

冷 in Chinese culture

冷 is cold — 今天很冷 (today is cold), 冷水 (cold water). Figuratively it's coolness or detachment: 冷静 (calm, 'cold-still' — a good thing, level-headed), 冷淡 (cold/indifferent toward someone). A 冷笑话 is a 'cold joke' — a pun so bad it makes the room go quiet (China's version of a groan-worthy dad joke). 冷 and 热 (cold and hot) are a fundamental pair in Chinese thinking about weather, health, and even temperament.

Example

很冷 hěn lěng — very cold

北方冬天很冷。
Běifāng dōngtiān hěn lěng.
The north is very cold in winter.

How to remember it

The ice radical (冫) — two frozen drops: COLD.

冷静 ('cold-still') means calm and level-headed — being 'cold' here is good. A 冷笑话 ('cold joke') is a pun so bad the room goes silent — China's groan-worthy dad joke.

Same sound, different tones

Words unlocked by 冷

很冷 hěn lěng
very cold
冷水 lěngshuǐ
cold water
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