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冷门 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
冷门lěngména neglected branch (of arts, science, sports etc)HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #24309, Very Hard
冷门lěngménfig. a complete unknown who wins a competitionHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #24309, Very Hard
lěngmén(leng3men2)leng men T3
  1. 1a neglected branch (of arts, science, sports etc)
  2. 2fig. a complete unknown who wins a competition
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March 24, 2026

冷门(冷門)lěngmén(leng3men2)

冷门 (lěngmén) refers to fields or subjects that are not well-known or popular, often representing niche areas of interest. It can also describe an unexpected winner in a competition, particularly someone who was considered an underdog or a complete unknown before the event.

Strokes10Frequency#24309DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, particularly in sports and entertainment, narratives around underdogs, or 冷门, resonate deeply. The story of a surprising victory often reflects broader themes of perseverance and hidden talent.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'cold door' (冷门, lěngmén) that nobody knows about. Behind this door is a hidden world of unconventional arts or sports, where unexpected champions emerge. Visualize a chilly, dark door that opens to reveal surprise winners who were overlooked.

Meanings of 冷门

lěngmén(leng3men2)
1a neglected branch (of arts, science, sports etc)
2fig. a complete unknown who wins a competition
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About 冷门

冷门Simplified
冷門Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 冷门

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AI study notes for 冷门

Quick Contrast

冷门 (lěngmén) vs 小众 (xiǎozhòng) — use 冷门 when emphasizing unexpectedness or rarity in popularity, while 小众 focuses on niche interest without the competitive context.

Usage Notes

When using 冷门, ensure you're discussing contexts that truly reflect neglect or obscurity. It is often used in informal settings and can describe both academic subjects and competitive scenarios. Be cautious with tone; the second tone (门) can easily blend in with similar sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 冷门 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to competition and niche topics. Students should focus on recognizing its use in discussions about lesser-known sports or arts to expand their vocabulary contextually.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 冷门 to describe popular or well-known subjects, such as saying '这是一门冷门科学' to mean 'This is a popular science.' Instead, you should say '这是一门热门科学' to indicate it is popular.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 冷门

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Component characters

冷lěngcold
HSK 17 strokes冫
View full entry
门méngate
HSK 23 strokes门
View full entry

How to say a neglected branch (of arts, science, sports etc) in Chinese

“a neglected branch (of arts, science, sports etc)” in Chinese is冷门lěngmén

冷门 (lěngmén) refers to fields or subjects that are not well-known or popular, often representing niche areas of interest. It can also describe an unexpected winner in a competition, particularly someone who was considered an underdog or a complete unknown before the event.

When to use 冷门

When using 冷门, ensure you're discussing contexts that truly reflect neglect or obscurity. It is often used in informal settings and can describe both academic subjects and competitive scenarios. Be cautious with tone; the second tone (门) can easily blend in with similar sounding words.

冷门 or something close to it

冷门 (lěngmén) vs 小众 (xiǎozhòng) — use 冷门 when emphasizing unexpectedness or rarity in popularity, while 小众 focuses on niche interest without the competitive context.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 冷门 to describe popular or well-known subjects, such as saying '这是一门冷门科学' to mean 'This is a popular science.' Instead, you should say '这是一门热门科学' to indicate it is popular.

Write 冷门

冷
门

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Frequently asked questions about 冷门

It is more commonly used in informal contexts, so it might not be appropriate for formal academic writing.

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