Meanings of 严寒
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Podcast: 严寒
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AI study notes for 严寒
严寒 (severe cold) vs 寒冷 (cold) — use 严寒 for extreme, dangerous cold conditions, while 寒冷 describes general coldness.
Be careful when using 严寒; it is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual conversation. Common collocations include 严寒天气 (bitter cold weather) or 严寒的冬天 (severe winter). Also, ensure you use the correct tones, as mispronouncing this could lead to confusion.
As an HSK 6 word, 严寒 connects well with other descriptive adjectives for weather and conditions, such as 暴风 (storm) and 酷热 (scorching heat). Focus on using it in context to describe contrasting weather patterns.
Learners often confuse 严寒 with simply 寒, which means 'cold' but lacks the severity implied by 严寒. For example, saying '今天天气很寒' (Today's weather is cold) misses the emphasis on extreme cold that 严寒 provides.
Pronunciation of 严寒
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Component characters
How to say bitter cold in Chinese
“bitter cold” in Chinese is严寒
严寒 refers to extremely cold weather, typically associated with severe winter conditions. It is often used to describe bitterly cold temperatures that can be uncomfortable or dangerous, particularly in regions experiencing harsh winters.
When to use 严寒
Be careful when using 严寒; it is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual conversation. Common collocations include 严寒天气 (bitter cold weather) or 严寒的冬天 (severe winter). Also, ensure you use the correct tones, as mispronouncing this could lead to confusion.
严寒 or something close to it
严寒 (severe cold) vs 寒冷 (cold) — use 严寒 for extreme, dangerous cold conditions, while 寒冷 describes general coldness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 严寒 with simply 寒, which means 'cold' but lacks the severity implied by 严寒. For example, saying '今天天气很寒' (Today's weather is cold) misses the emphasis on extreme cold that 严寒 provides.
Write 严寒
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Practice writing 严寒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 严寒
严寒 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 2 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.
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____冻红了我们的耳朵.
Severe cold turned our ears pink.
Example sentences for 严寒 (8)
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Frequently asked questions about 严寒
No, 严寒 specifically refers to severe cold conditions typically experienced in winter.
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