Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
零下 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
零下língxiàbelow zeroHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15790, Medium
língxià(ling2xia4)ling xia T2
  1. 1below zero
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

零下língxià(ling2xia4)

零下 (língxià) means 'below zero' and is commonly used to describe temperatures that fall below the freezing point. It is particularly relevant in weather reports and discussions about cold climates, indicating that it is colder than the standard freezing temperature of water.

Strokes16Frequency#15790DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In China, winter temperatures can often drop below zero in northern regions, making 零下 a common term in daily discussions about the cold season and the need for appropriate clothing.

Memory Tip

Imagine a thermometer showing a big '0' with a downward arrow pointing to a snowy landscape. The '零' (líng) looks like a round zero, and '下' (xià) means 'below', so together they remind you of temperatures dropping below freezing.

Meanings of 零下

língxià(ling2xia4)
1below zero
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 零下 means.

About 零下

零下Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 零下

JasonAmy

Podcast: 零下

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 零下

Quick Contrast

低于 (dīyú, below) — use 零下 specifically for temperatures below zero, while 低于 can refer to any lower measurement.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 零下 with 零 (zero) alone. It's often used in weather contexts, so it's more common in formal settings like weather forecasts. Remember to pair it with temperature measurements, such as '零下10度' (10 degrees below zero).

HSK Study Tips

While 零下 is not an HSK word, it connects to HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to weather and temperature. Focus on understanding how this term fits into practical conversations about climate and weather conditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 零下 with other contexts not related to temperature, such as '零下的价格' (below zero price), which is incorrect. Stick to temperature references to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 零下

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 零下 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 零下 to You

Let me explain 零下 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 零下 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 零下?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 零下 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

零língzero
HSK 113 strokes雨
View full entry
下xiàdown
HSK 13 strokes一
View full entry

How to say below zero in Chinese

“below zero” in Chinese is零下língxià

零下 (língxià) means 'below zero' and is commonly used to describe temperatures that fall below the freezing point. It is particularly relevant in weather reports and discussions about cold climates, indicating that it is colder than the standard freezing temperature of water.

When to use 零下

Be cautious not to confuse 零下 with 零 (zero) alone. It's often used in weather contexts, so it's more common in formal settings like weather forecasts. Remember to pair it with temperature measurements, such as '零下10度' (10 degrees below zero).

零下 or something close to it

低于 (dīyú, below) — use 零下 specifically for temperatures below zero, while 低于 can refer to any lower measurement.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 零下 with other contexts not related to temperature, such as '零下的价格' (below zero price), which is incorrect. Stick to temperature references to avoid confusion.

Write 零下

零
下

Practice writing 零下 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 零下?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 零下

You can say '今天的温度是零下五度', which means 'Today's temperature is five degrees below zero.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 零下?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab