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冷战 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
冷战lěngzhàncold warHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10337, Very Hard
冷战lěngzhàn(coll.) shiverHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10337, Very Hard
冷战lěngzhànshudderHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10337, Very Hard
lěngzhàn(leng3zhan4)leng zhan T3
  1. 1cold war
  2. 2(coll.) shiver
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March 24, 2026

冷战(冷戰)lěngzhàn(leng3zhan4)

冷战 (lěngzhàn) refers primarily to the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II. It also colloquially means to shiver or shudder, often in response to cold temperatures or fear, highlighting the duality of physical and ideological 'coldness'.

Strokes16Frequency#10337DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The term 冷战 is deeply ingrained in modern Chinese history, as it relates to China's position during the Cold War and its complex relationships with both the USSR and the USA. Understanding this term provides insight into contemporary Chinese foreign policy.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'cold' (冷) battle (战) where two armies face off without ever firing a shot. Visualize soldiers shivering in the cold, creating a chill in the air, which helps you remember the pronunciation 'lěngzhàn'.

Meanings of 冷战

lěngzhàn(leng3zhan4)
1cold war
2(coll.) shiver
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About 冷战

冷战Simplified
冷戰Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 冷战

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AI study notes for 冷战

Usage Notes

When using 冷战 to refer to the historical context, it is generally formal and often discussed in academic or political conversations. In informal usage, it can describe someone shivering, but be careful with the tone, as '冷' (lěng) must be pronounced correctly to convey coldness. Common collocations include '冷战时期' (Cold War period) and '冷战状态' (state of cold war).

HSK Study Tips

While 冷战 is not on the official HSK list, it connects to higher-level vocabulary related to history and politics. Students should focus on the pronunciation and context of use to effectively discuss historical events and their implications.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 冷战 with other 'cold' terms like 寒冷 (hánlěng), which means cold in a general sense. For example, saying '我感到冷战' (wǒ gǎndào lěngzhàn) to mean 'I feel cold' is incorrect; it should be '我感到寒冷' (wǒ gǎndào hánlěng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 冷战

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Component characters

冷lěngcold
HSK 17 strokes冫
View full entry
战zhànto fight
HSK 69 strokes戈
View full entry

How to say cold war in Chinese

“cold war” in Chinese is冷战lěngzhàn

冷战 (lěngzhàn) refers primarily to the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II. It also colloquially means to shiver or shudder, often in response to cold temperatures or fear, highlighting the duality of physical and ideological 'coldness'.

When to use 冷战

When using 冷战 to refer to the historical context, it is generally formal and often discussed in academic or political conversations. In informal usage, it can describe someone shivering, but be careful with the tone, as '冷' (lěng) must be pronounced correctly to convey coldness. Common collocations include '冷战时期' (Cold War period) and '冷战状态' (state of cold war).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 冷战 with other 'cold' terms like 寒冷 (hánlěng), which means cold in a general sense. For example, saying '我感到冷战' (wǒ gǎndào lěngzhàn) to mean 'I feel cold' is incorrect; it should be '我感到寒冷' (wǒ gǎndào hánlěng).

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冷
战

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Frequently asked questions about 冷战

It literally translates to 'cold war', with 冷 meaning 'cold' and 战 meaning 'war'.

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