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凉水 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
凉水liángshuǐcool waterHSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #30123, Medium
凉水liángshuǐunboiled waterHSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #30123, Medium
liángshuǐ(liang2shui3)liang shui T2
  1. 1cool water
  2. 2unboiled water
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March 24, 2026

凉水(涼水)liángshuǐ(liang2shui3)

凉水 (liáng shuǐ) refers to cool or unboiled water, often used to describe water that has not been heated. This term is commonly used in daily life, particularly when ordering drinks or discussing preparation methods for cooking, as many people prefer using凉水 for making certain beverages or dishes.

Strokes14Frequency#30123DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, drinking 凉水 is often preferred in the summer, as it helps to cool the body down, especially in hot climates. It is also common for people to drink unboiled water at home, as it is believed to be safe and refreshing.

Memory Tip

Imagine a refreshing drink on a hot day, where '凉' (liáng) looks like a person cooling off with a fan, and '水' (shuǐ) resembles flowing water. Together, they evoke the image of cool water that soothes your thirst.

Meanings of 凉水

liángshuǐ(liang2shui3)
1cool water
2unboiled water
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About 凉水

凉水Simplified
涼水Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 凉水

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Podcast: 凉水

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AI Study Notes for 凉水

Quick Contrast

凉开水 (liáng kāi shuǐ) refers specifically to boiled and cooled water, while 凉水 (liáng shuǐ) indicates cool, unboiled water; use 凉水 when discussing water that hasn't been heated.

Usage Notes

Be aware that using 凉水 in a formal setting may feel too casual; opt for boiled water (开水) in formal situations. A common mistake is confusing 凉水 with 热水 (hot water), so ensure you're clear about which you mean when ordering.

HSK Study Tips

While 凉水 is not a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects to basic water-related terms like 水 (water) and can be useful for learners at HSK 1-2. Focus on pronunciation and context to distinguish it from other water-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 凉水 with 热水 (hot water) and may inadvertently order hot water instead. For example, saying '我想要热水' (wǒ xiǎng yào rè shuǐ) instead of '我想要凉水' (wǒ xiǎng yào liáng shuǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 凉水

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Component Characters

凉liángthe five Liang of the Sixteen Kingdoms, namely: Former Liang 前涼
HSK 410 strokes冫
View full entry
水shuǐwater
HSK 14 strokes水
View full entry

How to say cool water in Chinese

“cool water” in Chinese is凉水liángshuǐ

凉水 (liáng shuǐ) refers to cool or unboiled water, often used to describe water that has not been heated. This term is commonly used in daily life, particularly when ordering drinks or discussing preparation methods for cooking, as many people prefer using凉水 for making certain beverages or dishes.

When to use 凉水

Be aware that using 凉水 in a formal setting may feel too casual; opt for boiled water (开水) in formal situations. A common mistake is confusing 凉水 with 热水 (hot water), so ensure you're clear about which you mean when ordering.

凉水 or something close to it

凉开水 (liáng kāi shuǐ) refers specifically to boiled and cooled water, while 凉水 (liáng shuǐ) indicates cool, unboiled water; use 凉水 when discussing water that hasn't been heated.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 凉水 with 热水 (hot water) and may inadvertently order hot water instead. For example, saying '我想要热水' (wǒ xiǎng yào rè shuǐ) instead of '我想要凉水' (wǒ xiǎng yào liáng shuǐ).

Write 凉水

凉
水

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Frequently Asked Questions about 凉水

Yes, in many parts of China, 凉水 is considered safe for drinking, especially if sourced from clean tap water.

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