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March 24, 2026
严寒(嚴寒)yánhán(yan2han2)
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.
Strokes19Frequency#26151DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, severe winters are often linked to traditional festivals like the Winter Solstice (冬至), which emphasizes family gatherings and seasonal foods to combat the cold. Understanding this connection can enrich your appreciation of winter-related vocabulary.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce, serious '严' (yan) face braving the '寒' (han) chill of winter winds. The character '严' suggests strictness or severity, while '寒' relates to coldness, creating an image of a relentless, icy grip.
Meanings of 严寒
yánhán(yan2han2)
1bitter cold
2severe winter
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 严寒
严寒Simplified
嚴寒Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#26151Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 严寒
Podcast: 严寒
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AI Study Notes for 严寒
Quick Contrast
严寒 (severe cold) vs 寒冷 (cold) — use 严寒 for extreme, dangerous cold conditions, while 寒冷 describes general coldness.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 严寒
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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
严
寒
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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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____冻红了我们的耳朵.
Severe cold turned our ears pink.
Example Sentences for 严寒 (8)
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1
严寒冻红了我们的耳朵.
yán hán dòng hóng le wǒ mén de ěr duǒ.
Severe cold turned our ears pink.
2
他在严寒期间滑倒,摔断了腿.
tā zài yán hán qī jiān huá dǎo, , shuāi duàn le.
He slipped and broke his leg during the big freeze.
