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凇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
凇sōngdewdrop; iciclex, 10 strokes, radical 冫
sōng(song1) T1
  1. 1dewdrop; icicle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

凇sōng(song1)

The character 凇 (sōng) primarily refers to an icicle or a dewdrop, often evoking imagery of coldness and natural beauty. It is used in poetic contexts to describe delicate formations of frozen water, capturing a sense of winter and freshness. In literature, it can symbolize purity and transience.

Strokes10Radical冫
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, natural elements like icicles (凇) are often used to evoke emotions and seasonal changes, highlighting the beauty of nature and its fleeting moments. This character may appear in works celebrating winter scenery.

Memory Tip

Imagine a long, slender icicle hanging from a roof, shining like a drop of dew in the sunlight. The shape of the character 凇 resembles the droplet at the tip of the icicle, and the 's' sound in 'sōng' can remind you of the 's' in 'slippery' which icicles can be.

Meanings of 凇

sōng(song1)
1dewdrop; icicle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 凇

凇Simplified
10Strokes
冫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 凇

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Podcast: 凇

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AI Study Notes for 凇

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for literary or poetic contexts. Be mindful of the tone; the first tone (sōng) is critical as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely. It is often found in compound words related to nature.

HSK Study Tips

While 凇 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for students at HSK level 5 and above who are exploring more nuanced vocabulary. Focus on its use in literary examples to enhance understanding and appreciation of its connotation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 凇 with similar-sounding characters like 松 (sōng, pine) due to their pronunciation. It's crucial to remember that 凇 specifically relates to ice or dew, while 松 refers to trees.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 凇

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Etymology of 凇

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

ice

Semantic (meaning)冫
+
Phonetic (sound)松
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 凇

  1. 1The meaning half冫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half松 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayice
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 凇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 凇?

Decomposition of 凇

IDS Structure⿰冫松
凇Full Character
=
冫bing1
left
松Song1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 凇?

How to say dewdrop; icicle in Chinese

“dewdrop; icicle” in Chinese is凇sōng

The character 凇 (sōng) primarily refers to an icicle or a dewdrop, often evoking imagery of coldness and natural beauty. It is used in poetic contexts to describe delicate formations of frozen water, capturing a sense of winter and freshness. In literature, it can symbolize purity and transience.

When to use 凇

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for literary or poetic contexts. Be mindful of the tone; the first tone (sōng) is critical as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely. It is often found in compound words related to nature.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 凇 with similar-sounding characters like 松 (sōng, pine) due to their pronunciation. It's crucial to remember that 凇 specifically relates to ice or dew, while 松 refers to trees.

Write 凇

凇

Practice writing 凇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 凇

Words Containing This Character3
凇sōngicicle
雾凇rime霧凇
雨凇frost
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 凇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 凇

You might encounter it in phrases like '凇凝于枝' (the icicles freeze on the branches), highlighting its imagery.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 凇?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.