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清凉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
清凉qīngliángcoolHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #22613, Very Hard
清凉qīngliángrefreshingHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #22613, Very Hard
清凉qīngliáng(of clothing) skimpyHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #22613, Very Hard
清凉qīngliángrevealingHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #22613, Very Hard
qīngliáng(qing1liang2)qing liang T1
  1. 1cool
  2. 2refreshing
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March 24, 2026

清凉(清涼)qīngliáng(qing1liang2)

清凉 (qīngliang) refers to a state of being cool or refreshing, often used to describe pleasant temperatures or sensations. It can also refer to clothing that is light, airy, or revealing, especially in hot weather, making it a versatile term in both environmental and fashion contexts.

Strokes21Frequency#22613DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 清凉 is essential during the hot summer months, where people seek out ways to stay cool, often through food, clothing, and leisure activities, such as visiting water parks or enjoying cold desserts.

Memory tip

Imagine a clear blue sky (清) on a hot day, where a gentle breeze (凉) brings a refreshing feeling to your skin. Picture someone wearing light, airy clothing, enjoying the coolness, as the 'qīng' sound mimics the freshness of a cool breeze.

Meanings of 清凉

qīngliáng(qing1liang2)
1cool
2refreshing
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 清凉

清凉Simplified
清涼Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 清凉

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Podcast: 清凉

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AI Study Notes for 清凉

Quick Contrast

清爽 (qīngshuǎng) refers to a refreshing feeling but often emphasizes a sense of briskness or vitality, while 清凉 (qīngliáng) focuses more on a cool sensation.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 清凉 with similar terms like 凉快 (liángkuai), which specifically refers to the coolness of the air. This word is versatile and can be used in both casual conversations and more descriptive writing, but avoid using it in overly formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 清凉 is not an HSK word, it helps build vocabulary related to weather and sensations, which are common topics. Focus on practicing its usage in sentences that describe comfort or clothing appropriate for warm weather.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 清凉 in contexts unrelated to temperature or comfort, such as saying '我觉得今天很清凉' (I feel today is very cool) when it should be '我觉得今天很凉快' (I feel today is very cool). Additionally, some might confuse it with 清新 (qīngxīn), which means fresh or new.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 清凉

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Component Characters

清qīngclear
HSK 611 strokes氵
View full entry
凉liángthe five Liang of the Sixteen Kingdoms, namely: Former Liang 前涼
HSK 410 strokes冫
View full entry

How to say cool in Chinese

“cool” in Chinese is清凉qīngliáng

清凉 (qīngliang) refers to a state of being cool or refreshing, often used to describe pleasant temperatures or sensations. It can also refer to clothing that is light, airy, or revealing, especially in hot weather, making it a versatile term in both environmental and fashion contexts.

When to use 清凉

Be careful not to confuse 清凉 with similar terms like 凉快 (liángkuai), which specifically refers to the coolness of the air. This word is versatile and can be used in both casual conversations and more descriptive writing, but avoid using it in overly formal contexts.

清凉 or something close to it

清爽 (qīngshuǎng) refers to a refreshing feeling but often emphasizes a sense of briskness or vitality, while 清凉 (qīngliáng) focuses more on a cool sensation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 清凉 in contexts unrelated to temperature or comfort, such as saying '我觉得今天很清凉' (I feel today is very cool) when it should be '我觉得今天很凉快' (I feel today is very cool). Additionally, some might confuse it with 清新 (qīngxīn), which means fresh or new.

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清
凉

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Frequently Asked Questions about 清凉

Yes, 清凉 can describe food that is refreshing or cool, such as cold dishes or beverages.

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