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March 24, 2026
冬(鼕)dōng(dong1)
The character 冬 (dōng) primarily means 'winter,' referring to the coldest season of the year. It is often used in contexts related to weather, seasonal activities, and cultural references, such as winter festivals and holidays. This character can also appear in phrases describing the characteristics of winter or traditions associated with it.
Strokes5Radical⺀Frequency#8578DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, winter is often associated with the celebration of the Winter Solstice (冬至, dōngzhì), which is a significant time for family gatherings and traditional foods like dumplings. This character also links to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
Memory tip
Imagine a snowy landscape in winter where icicles hang down like the character 冬. The two horizontal lines can represent the cold, flat ground covered in snow, while the vertical line symbolizes the chill in the air, reminding you of 'dōng' for 'winter.'
Meanings of 冬
dōng(dong1)
1winter
2(onom.) beating a drum
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 冬
冬Simplified
鼕Traditional
5Strokes
⺀Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#8578Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L1TOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 冬
Podcast: 冬
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AI study notes for 冬
Quick Contrast
夏 (xià) - refers to 'summer,' the season opposite to winter; 春 (chūn) - means 'spring,' the season following winter.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 冬 (winter) with other seasonal characters like 春 (spring) or 秋 (autumn). Common collocations include 冬天 (dōngtiān - winter) and 冬季 (dōngjì - winter season). The tone must be pronounced correctly; a mistake may lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 冬 helps learners connect with other season-related vocabulary, such as 春 (spring) and 秋 (autumn). Focus on using it in complete sentences to describe seasonal activities and weather conditions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 冬 with the wrong number of strokes, such as using a different character like 亻 (person radical) instead of the correct form. Always ensure you use the full character 冬.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 冬
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The character 冬 (dōng) primarily means 'winter,' referring to the coldest season of the year. It is often used in contexts related to weather, seasonal activities, and cultural references, such as winter festivals and holidays. This character can also appear in phrases describing the characteristics of winter or traditions associated with it.
When to use 冬
Be careful not to confuse 冬 (winter) with other seasonal characters like 春 (spring) or 秋 (autumn). Common collocations include 冬天 (dōngtiān - winter) and 冬季 (dōngjì - winter season). The tone must be pronounced correctly; a mistake may lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
冬 or something close to it
夏 (xià) - refers to 'summer,' the season opposite to winter; 春 (chūn) - means 'spring,' the season following winter.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 冬 with the wrong number of strokes, such as using a different character like 亻 (person radical) instead of the correct form. Always ensure you use the full character 冬.
Write 冬
冬
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Grammar patterns of 冬
冬 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
The sudden onset of winter caused havoc with rail and air transport.
11
冬天的时候，雪会覆盖整个大地。
Dōngtiān de shíhou, xuě huì fùgài zhěnggè dàdì.
In winter, snow covers the entire land.
12
我喜欢冬天，因为可以滑雪。
Wǒ xǐhuān dōngtiān, yīnwèi kěyǐ huáxuě.
I like winter because I can ski.
13
冬天很冷，我们要多穿衣服。
Dōngtiān hěn lěng, wǒmen yào duō chuān yīfu.
Winter is very cold, we need to wear more clothes.
14
冬天到了，湖面结冰了。
Dōngtiān dàole, húmiàn jié bīng le.
Winter has arrived, and the lake is frozen.
15
冬天，我喜欢喝热巧克力。
Dōngtiān, wǒ xǐhuān hē rè qiǎokèlì.
In winter, I like to drink hot chocolate.
16
冬天的时候，很多人去山上滑雪。
Dōngtiān de shíhòu, hěn duō rén qù shān shàng huáxuě.
In winter, many people go to the mountains to ski.
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Cultural Notes for 冬
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, winter (冬) is associated with the Chinese New Year, which typically falls between late January and early February. Many traditions, such as family reunions and special meals, are celebrated during this time.
Word Family of 冬
Compounds21
终zhōngend
图túdiagram
疼téng(it) hurts
咚dōngonomatopoetic, a thumping sound
氡dōngradon
佟tóngsurname
峂tóng
柊zhōngholly
泈zhōng
螽zhōngkatydid
庝tóng
昸dōng
炵tōng
笗dōng
終zhōngend; finally, in the end
苳dōng
鉖tóng
鮗dōng
鴤zhōng
鼕dōngthe sound of drums
鼨zhōng
Words containing this character19
冬天dōngtiānwinter
冬dōngrat-a-tat鼕
冬季dōngjìwinter
冬眠dōngmiánhibernation
冬至dōngzhìWinter Solstice, 22nd of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 22nd December-5th January
寒冬hándōngwintry
冬瓜dōngguāwhite gourd
过冬guòdōngto get through the winter過冬
冬奥会dōng’àohuìWinter Olympics冬奧會
冬青dōngqīngholly
严冬yándōngsevere winter嚴冬
立冬lìdōngLidong or Start of Winter, 19th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 7th-21st November
隆冬lóngdōngmidwinter
越冬yuèdōngto overwinter
初冬chūdōngearly winter
春夏秋冬chūnxiàqiūdōngthe four seasons
冬衣dōngyīwinter clothes
忍冬rěndōnghoneysuckle
冬令dōnglìngwinter
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 冬
What does 终 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 冬
One common phrase is '冬暖夏凉' (dōng nuǎn xià liáng), which means 'warm in winter and cool in summer.' It describes a comfortable living environment throughout the seasons. Such phrases often express seasonal characteristics.
Yes, besides referring to the winter season, 冬 can also denote a surname, Dong. Additionally, it is used in some onomatopoeic expressions that mimic the sound of drumming, showing its versatility in the language.
冬 (dōng) means 'winter' in Chinese. It refers to the coldest season of the year, typically associated with snow and low temperatures. Additionally, it can serve as an onomatopoeic term, representing the sound of a drum beating.
You can use 冬 in a sentence to talk about activities or weather during the winter season. For example, '冬天很冷' (dōngtiān hěn lěng) means 'It is very cold in winter.' This shows how 冬 can be integrated into everyday conversation.
It is pronounced as 'dōng' with a high-level tone.
Yes, for example, '冬天很冷' (dōngtiān hěn lěng) means 'Winter is very cold.'
冬 (dōng) refers to winter as a season, while 冬季 (dōngjì) refers more specifically to the winter season.
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