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冰山 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
冰山bīngshānicebergHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #11027, Very Hard
bīngshān(bing1shan1)bing shan T1
  1. 1iceberg
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March 24, 2026

冰山bīngshān(bing1shan1)

冰山 (bīng shān) refers to an iceberg, which is a large mass of freshwater ice that has broken off from a glacier and floats in the sea. In conversation, it can also symbolize something that is only partially visible, with much more hidden beneath the surface.

Strokes9Frequency#11027DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Icebergs are significant in discussions about climate change in China, as they reflect the melting polar ice caps. This awareness connects to broader environmental issues in Chinese society, especially as it pertains to global warming.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant mountain of ice floating in the ocean, with only its tip visible above water. The character 冰 (bīng) means ice, and 山 (shān) means mountain, so together they create the image of an 'ice mountain'—an iceberg.

Meanings of 冰山

bīngshān(bing1shan1)
1iceberg
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About 冰山

冰山Simplified
9Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 冰山

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Podcast: 冰山

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AI study notes for 冰山

Quick Contrast

冰块 (bīng kuài) refers to an ice cube, which is a smaller, solid piece of ice, while 冰山 (bīng shān) specifically denotes a large floating mass of ice, often with significant portions submerged.

Usage Notes

While 冰山 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, be careful with the tone. The first syllable 'bīng' must be pronounced with a high level tone to avoid confusion with other meanings. It often collocates with words like '浮' (float) and '融化' (melt).

HSK Study Tips

Although 冰山 is not found in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 2 words like '冰' (ice) and '山' (mountain), which are fundamental elements in describing natural features. Focus on the radicals to understand how these characters relate.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 冰山, particularly the first character, confusing it with other words. For example, saying 'bǐng shān' instead of 'bīng shān' alters its meaning completely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 冰山

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Component characters

冰bīngice
HSK 36 strokes冫
View full entry
山shānmountain
HSK 33 strokes山
View full entry

How to say iceberg in Chinese

“iceberg” in Chinese is冰山bīngshān

冰山 (bīng shān) refers to an iceberg, which is a large mass of freshwater ice that has broken off from a glacier and floats in the sea. In conversation, it can also symbolize something that is only partially visible, with much more hidden beneath the surface.

When to use 冰山

While 冰山 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, be careful with the tone. The first syllable 'bīng' must be pronounced with a high level tone to avoid confusion with other meanings. It often collocates with words like '浮' (float) and '融化' (melt).

冰山 or something close to it

冰块 (bīng kuài) refers to an ice cube, which is a smaller, solid piece of ice, while 冰山 (bīng shān) specifically denotes a large floating mass of ice, often with significant portions submerged.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 冰山, particularly the first character, confusing it with other words. For example, saying 'bǐng shān' instead of 'bīng shān' alters its meaning completely.

Write 冰山

冰
山

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Frequently asked questions about 冰山

It is pronounced as 'bīng shān' with the first syllable in a high level tone.

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