Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
冷lěng(leng3)
The character 冷 (lěng) primarily means 'cold' or 'cool.' It is commonly used to describe low temperatures, such as weather conditions or food. Additionally, it can convey feelings of loneliness or emotional coldness in certain contexts.
Strokes7Radical冫Frequency#1231DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of coldness is often associated with winter festivals, such as the Dongzhi Festival, where families gather to eat dumplings and celebrate the return of longer days after the cold.
Memory Tip
Imagine a penguin shivering in the cold (冷). The left side of the character looks like a person (亻) feeling chilly, while the right side (冷) resembles cold air blowing around them. This imagery connects both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 冷
lěng(leng3)
1cold
2cold, cool; lonely
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 冷
冷Simplified
7Strokes
冫Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1231Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 冷
Podcast: 冷
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 冷
Quick Contrast
冷 (lěng) vs 凉 (liáng): Use 冷 for very low temperatures or emotional coldness, while 凉 is more about a coolness that is refreshing or mildly cold.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 冷 with 热 (rè), which means 'hot.' This word is generally used in informal contexts, especially when describing weather or temperature. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 冷 connects with other basic adjectives describing sensations or feelings, such as 热 (hot) and 温暖 (warm). Focus on using it in simple sentences to describe weather or personal feelings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 冷 (lěng) to mean 'cool' in a fashionable sense, which is incorrect. For instance, saying '这件衣服很冷' (Zhè jiàn yīfú hěn lěng) to mean 'This clothes is cool' should instead use 酷 (kù) for 'cool' in style.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 冷
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 冷 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound.
1The meaning half冫 carries the sense.
2The sound half令 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayice
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 冷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 冷?
Decomposition of 冷
IDS Structure⿰冫令
冷Full Character
=
冫bing1
left
令Ling2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 冷?
How to say cold in Chinese
“cold” in Chinese is冷lěng
The character 冷 (lěng) primarily means 'cold' or 'cool.' It is commonly used to describe low temperatures, such as weather conditions or food. Additionally, it can convey feelings of loneliness or emotional coldness in certain contexts.
When to use 冷
Learners often confuse 冷 with 热 (rè), which means 'hot.' This word is generally used in informal contexts, especially when describing weather or temperature. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
冷 or something close to it
冷 (lěng) vs 凉 (liáng): Use 冷 for very low temperatures or emotional coldness, while 凉 is more about a coolness that is refreshing or mildly cold.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 冷 (lěng) to mean 'cool' in a fashionable sense, which is incorrect. For instance, saying '这件衣服很冷' (Zhè jiàn yīfú hěn lěng) to mean 'This clothes is cool' should instead use 酷 (kù) for 'cool' in style.
Write 冷
冷
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 冷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 冷
冷 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
