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March 24, 2026
凍dòng(dong4)
The character 凍 (dòng) means 'to freeze' or 'to congeal', commonly used to describe the process of becoming cold or solid, especially in reference to liquids. It can also refer to the sensation of extreme cold or describe food items like jelly that have a firm consistency due to freezing. This term is used in both everyday contexts and culinary discussions.
Strokes10Radical冫Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winter festivals often feature frozen foods and ice sculptures, making the term 凍 relevant during this season. Additionally, dishes like 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín, ice cream) reflect the enjoyment of frozen treats.
Memory Tip
Imagine a snowy mountain capped with ice where everything is frozen. The character 凍 has the radical 冫 (ice) on the left, which helps you remember that it relates to coldness. Picture 'dòng' as a 'dong' sound echoing through the icy air, reinforcing the freezing concept.
Meanings of 凍
dòng(dong4)
1cold; to freeze, to congeal; jelly
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About 凍
凍Simplified
10Strokes
冫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 凍
Podcast: 凍
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AI Study Notes for 凍
Quick Contrast
冻 (dòng) vs 冷 (lěng) — use 冻 for the process of freezing or solidifying, while 冷 refers to a state of being cold.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a snowy mountain capped with ice where everything is frozen. The character 凍 has the radical 冫 (ice) on the left, which helps you remember that it relates to coldness. Picture 'dòng' as a 'dong' sound echoing through the icy air, reinforcing the freezing concept.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'dòng' is pronounced with a falling tone. A common mistake is to confuse it with the similar-sounding character 动 (dòng), which means 'to move'. It's often used in phrases like 凍結 (dòngjié, to freeze), so pay attention to collocations for accurate usage.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the official HSK levels, 凍 is a useful character for HSK 3-4 learners, especially when discussing weather or food. Focus on related vocabulary such as 冷 (lěng, cold) and 冰 (bīng, ice) to enhance your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winter festivals often feature frozen foods and ice sculptures, making the term 凍 relevant during this season. Additionally, dishes like 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín, ice cream) reflect the enjoyment of frozen treats.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 凍 (dòng) with 冷 (lěng), leading to incorrect expressions like '我觉得凍' (wǒ juédé dòng) instead of '我觉得冷' (wǒ juédé lěng), meaning 'I feel cold.' Ensure you use '凍' specifically for freezing contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 凍
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Cultural Notes for 凍
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, winter festivals often feature frozen foods and ice sculptures, making the term 凍 relevant during this season. Additionally, dishes like 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín, ice cream) reflect the enjoyment of frozen treats.
