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凄凉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
凄凉
qīliáng
desolate
HSK 7, a, 20 strokes, rank #17735, Very Hard
凄凉
qīliáng
mournful
HSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #17735, Very Hard
凄凉
qīliáng
miserable
HSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #17735, Very Hard
qīliáng(qi1liang2)qi liang T1
1desolate
2mournful
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March 24, 2026
凄凉(悽涼)qīliáng(qi1liang2)
The term 凄凉 (qī liáng) describes a state of desolation, often evoking feelings of sorrow or misery. It is commonly used in literature and poetry to convey a deep sense of sadness or bleakness in a scene or situation, such as a deserted landscape or a person's emotional state.
Strokes20Frequency#17735DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese literature, the imagery of desolation often reflects themes of loss or nostalgia, reminiscent of traditional poetry that laments unfulfilled desires or the passage of time. This cultural backdrop makes 凄凉 a powerful word in conveying emotional depth.
Memory tip
Imagine a cold, desolate landscape where the wind howls, leaving you feeling 'chilly' and 'lonely.' The character 凄 (qī) resembles a person shivering from the cold, and 凉 (liáng) means cool or cold, reinforcing the idea of a mournful, empty place.
Meanings of 凄凉
qīliáng(qi1liang2)
1desolate
2mournful
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 凄凉
凄凉Simplified
悽涼Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#17735Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 凄凉
Podcast: 凄凉
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AI study notes for 凄凉
Quick Contrast
凄惨 (qīcǎn) - use 凄凉 when emphasizing a desolate atmosphere, while 凄惨 focuses more on tragic suffering.
Usage Notes
This word is often used in literary contexts, so it may come off as overly dramatic in everyday conversation. Be mindful of tone when using it; it typically conveys a serious or somber mood. Common collocations include 凄凉的景象 (qī liáng de jǐng xiàng) meaning 'a desolate scene.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 凄凉 connects with themes of emotion and description commonly found in advanced texts. Students should focus on using it in evocative sentences and recognizing its nuances in literature, enhancing their expressive vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 凄凉 with similar words like 悲惨 (bēi cǎn), which means 'tragic.' For example, saying '他的生活很悲惨' (His life is very desolate) is incorrect; instead, use '他的生活很凄凉.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 凄凉
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The term 凄凉 (qī liáng) describes a state of desolation, often evoking feelings of sorrow or misery. It is commonly used in literature and poetry to convey a deep sense of sadness or bleakness in a scene or situation, such as a deserted landscape or a person's emotional state.
When to use 凄凉
This word is often used in literary contexts, so it may come off as overly dramatic in everyday conversation. Be mindful of tone when using it; it typically conveys a serious or somber mood. Common collocations include 凄凉的景象 (qī liáng de jǐng xiàng) meaning 'a desolate scene.'
凄凉 or something close to it
凄惨 (qīcǎn) - use 凄凉 when emphasizing a desolate atmosphere, while 凄惨 focuses more on tragic suffering.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 凄凉 with similar words like 悲惨 (bēi cǎn), which means 'tragic.' For example, saying '他的生活很悲惨' (His life is very desolate) is incorrect; instead, use '他的生活很凄凉.'
Write 凄凉
凄
凉
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Practice writing 凄凉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 凄凉
凄凉 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
26分钟之后他一瘸一拐地走出来，显得孤单____。
He looked a forlorn figure as he limped off after 26 minutes.
Example sentences for 凄凉 (11)
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1
26分钟之后他一瘸一拐地走出来，显得孤单凄凉。
26 fēnzhōng zhīhòu tā yī qué yī guǎi dì zǒu chūlái， xiǎnde gūdān qīliáng。
He looked a forlorn figure as he limped off after 26 minutes.
2
她的书是女性当下所面临问题的凄凉写照。
tā de shū shì nǚxìng dāngxià suǒ miànlín wèntí de qīliáng xiězhào。
Her book paints a bleak picture of the problems women now face.
3
科泽莱克不带一丝顾影自怜地表达了自己的凄凉悲怆之感。
kē zé lái kè bù dài yī sī gù yǐng zì lián dì biǎodá le zìjǐ de qīliáng bēi chuàng zhī gǎn。
Kozelek expresses his sense of desolation absolutely without self-pity.
