Common Usage & Traps
- 很冷 — very cold
- 冷水 — cold water
- 不冷 — not cold
- 冷天 — cold weather
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冷冰冰冰 alone means ice. 冷冰 is not a standard word.
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冷热冷和热To say cold and hot, use 冷和热. 冷热 alone is not a common HSK 1 collocation.
冷
Cold, chilly; freezing low temperature. Cold in temperature, aloof in manner, or lonely and quiet. Ice radical 冫 beside 令 (lìng) “command” — an icy command that chills.
What is the difference between 冷 and 冰?
冷 is an adjective meaning cold; 冰 is a noun meaning ice.
Both share the ice radical 冫, but they work differently in sentences. 冷 describes temperature. 冰 names frozen water. You cannot swap them.
| Dimension | 冷 | 冰 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | cold (adjective) | ice (noun) |
| Usage | describes weather or objects | refers to frozen water |
| Example | 今天很冷。 | 冰很凉。 |
Can 冷 be used alone as a word?
Yes. 冷 is a free morpheme and can stand alone as an adjective.
Unlike bound characters that must attach to another morpheme, 冷 works independently in sentences like 今天很冷. It also forms common compounds like 冷水.
| Dimension | Standalone | Bound |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Can be used alone | Also forms compounds |
| Example | 天气冷。 | 冷水 |
Appears in Stories 6 stories
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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一天晚上，外边下大雨，天气非常 冷 。
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今天外边太 冷 了，我给你做热面条。”
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大中吃了热热的面条，觉得今天晚上一点儿也不 冷 了。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
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我们下飞机的时候是白天，但是天气有一点儿 冷 。
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
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你 冷 不 冷 ？
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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那种笑是绷着的，嘴角拉平，眼睛里一点儿温度也没有，也不是 冷冷的 ，就是那种空空的感觉。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
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爸爸喝热茶妈妈吃 冷菜 。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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不 冷 ，也不热。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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