HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 冫, rank #1696, Medium
冰
bīng
methamphetamine (slang)
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 冫, rank #1696, Medium
冰
bīng
ice; ice-cold
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 冫, rank #1696, Medium
bīng(bing1)bing T1
1ice
2methamphetamine (slang)
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March 24, 2026
冰bīng(bing1)
The character 冰 (bīng) primarily means 'ice' and refers to frozen water. It is commonly used in contexts relating to cold temperatures, beverages served cold, or winter weather. Additionally, in colloquial slang, it can refer to methamphetamine, which reflects a more informal and potentially negative usage.
Strokes6Radical冫Frequency#1696DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, ice is not only associated with coldness but also plays a role in summer beverages and culinary practices, particularly in regions where hot summers are common. The term is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, where ice is sometimes avoided due to beliefs about its effects on the body.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large chunk of ice (块) that is so cold it makes you shiver (bīng). The character 冰 looks like a mountain peak, representing the coldness of ice found atop snow-capped mountains.
Meanings of 冰
bīng(bing1)
1ice
2methamphetamine (slang)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 冰
冰Simplified
6Strokes
冫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1696Frequency Rank
块Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 冰
Podcast: 冰
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AI Study Notes for 冰
Quick Contrast
冰 (bīng) vs 冻 (dòng) — use 冰 for solid ice and 冻 for the process of freezing.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the tone when pronouncing 冰; it must be pronounced with a high level tone (bīng) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. In everyday conversation, it often collocates with words like '水' (water) for 'ice water' (冰水) and is informal when referring to drugs.
HSK Study Tips
Although 冰 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is a practical character that connects with related vocabulary such as 冷 (cold) and 雪 (snow). Students should focus on its usage in both literal and slang contexts to enhance their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 冰 with similar-sounding words, leading to miscommunication. For example, pronouncing it as bǐng instead of bīng can change the meaning entirely, leading to confusion with 'cake' (饼).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 冰
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Knowing 冰 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.
The character 冰 (bīng) primarily means 'ice' and refers to frozen water. It is commonly used in contexts relating to cold temperatures, beverages served cold, or winter weather. Additionally, in colloquial slang, it can refer to methamphetamine, which reflects a more informal and potentially negative usage.
When to use 冰
Be cautious of the tone when pronouncing 冰; it must be pronounced with a high level tone (bīng) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. In everyday conversation, it often collocates with words like '水' (water) for 'ice water' (冰水) and is informal when referring to drugs.
冰 or something close to it
冰 (bīng) vs 冻 (dòng) — use 冰 for solid ice and 冻 for the process of freezing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 冰 with similar-sounding words, leading to miscommunication. For example, pronouncing it as bǐng instead of bīng can change the meaning entirely, leading to confusion with 'cake' (饼).
Write 冰
冰
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Practice writing 冰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 冰
冰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
This drink is a bit bland, can you add some more ice?
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Cultural Notes for 冰
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, ice is not just a physical element, but also represents coldness in relationships. When someone says a relationship feels '冰' (bīng), it can indicate emotional distance or a lack of warmth.
Word Family of 冰
Compounds1
栤
Words Containing This Character20
冰bīngice
冰箱bīngxiāngicebox
冰淇淋ice cream
冰冷ice-cold
冰激凌bīngjīlíngice cream
冰块ice cube冰塊
滑冰huábīngto skate
冰雪bīngxuěice and snow
冰冻to freeze冰凍
冰球puck
冰川glacier
冰山bīngshāniceberg
冰凉ice-cold冰涼
溜冰ice skating
结冰jiébīngto freeze結冰
冰糖crystal sugar
冰雹bīngbáohail
冰棍popsicle
冰岛Iceland冰島
电冰箱refrigerator電冰箱
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 冰
What does 冰箱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 冰
In slang, 冰 (bīng) can refer to methamphetamine. This usage is more common in certain contexts and regions, so it's important to be aware of the audience when using this term. It's generally best to avoid slang usage unless you're familiar with the context.
To use 冰 in a sentence, you can say '我想喝冰水' (wǒ xiǎng hē bīng shuǐ), which means 'I want to drink ice water.' Another example is '外面很冷，路面上有冰' (wàimiàn hěn lěng, lùmiàn shàng yǒu bīng), meaning 'It's very cold outside, there is ice on the road.'
冰 (bīng) means 'ice' in Chinese. It can refer to frozen water, and is also used in various contexts such as drinks served with ice. Additionally, in slang, it can refer to methamphetamine.
In slang, 冰 can refer to methamphetamine.
Yes, 冰 is commonly used to describe ice in drinks or cold weather.
It is pronounced as bīng, with a high level tone.
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