Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
霜shuāng(shuang1)
霜 (shuāng) refers to frost, which forms when water vapor freezes into ice crystals on surfaces. It commonly signifies a layer of white powdery substance, resembling snow, and can also relate to frostings or creams used in cooking or skincare. In a broader context, it can denote anything that appears white and powdery due to freezing or crystallization.
Strokes17Radical雨Frequency#8769DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the first frost of the season is often associated with harvest time and is celebrated in various festivals. The appearance of 霜 signals a change in season, marking the transition from autumn to winter, which is significant in agricultural practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chilly morning where the ground sparkles with 'frost' (霜). The character 霜 has a radical for 'water' (氵) on the left, signaling its connection to ice, while the right part resembles a beautiful, crystallized pattern, reminiscent of frost's delicate nature. Think of 'shuang' as 'shimmering' frost that glistens under the morning sun.
Meanings of 霜
shuāng(shuang1)
1frost
2white powder or cream spread over a surface
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 霜
霜Simplified
17Strokes
雨Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8769Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 霜
Podcast: 霜
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 霜
Quick Contrast
霜 (shuāng) vs 雪 (xuě) — use 霜 when referring specifically to frost that forms on surfaces, while 雪 refers to snow that falls from the sky.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chilly morning where the ground sparkles with 'frost' (霜). The character 霜 has a radical for 'water' (氵) on the left, signaling its connection to ice, while the right part resembles a beautiful, crystallized pattern, reminiscent of frost's delicate nature. Think of 'shuang' as 'shimmering' frost that glistens under the morning sun.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 霜 with 雪 (xuě), which means snow; while both are white and cold, 霜 refers specifically to frost. This word is typically used in a neutral register, but can appear in poetic or literary contexts when describing nature. Common collocations include 霜冻 (shuāngdòng), meaning 'frost freeze,' and 霜降 (shuāngjiàng), referring to the seasonal frost.
HSK Study Tips
霜 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects well with other nature-related words like 雪 (snow) and 冰 (ice). Focus on recognizing its usage in weather descriptions and poetic expressions, as well as understanding its components to enhance your character recognition skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the first frost of the season is often associated with harvest time and is celebrated in various festivals. The appearance of 霜 signals a change in season, marking the transition from autumn to winter, which is significant in agricultural practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 霜 with 冰 (ice), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '今天天气很霜' (Today’s weather is very frost) is incorrect; instead, say '今天天气很冷' (Today’s weather is very cold) or specify '有霜' (there is frost).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 霜
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 霜 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 霜 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 霜
霜 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 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
敏感肌肤专用面____不会破坏皮肤表面的保护层。
Sensitive Cream will not strip away the skin's protective layer.
Example Sentences for 霜 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
敏感肌肤专用面霜不会破坏皮肤表面的保护层。
mǐn gǎn jī fū zhuān yòng miàn shuāng bù huì pò huài pí fū biǎo miàn de bǎo hù céng。
Sensitive Cream will not strip away the skin's protective layer.
2
她把糖霜浇在蛋糕上面，并用刀子轻轻涂抹开。
tā bǎ táng shuāng jiāo zài dàn gāo shàng miàn， ， bìng yòng dāo zǐ qīng qīng tú mǒ。
She spread the icing over the cake, dabbing it with a knife.
The fields have frosted over in this wintry morning.
9
他冷冷的绿眼睛好像结了一层霜.
tā lěng lěng de lǜ yǎn jīng hǎo xiàng jié le yī céng shuāng.
His cool green eyes became positively frosty.
10
一层霜覆盖了挡风玻璃.
yī céng shuāng fù gài le dǎng fēng bō lí.
A sheet of frost covers the windshield.
Cultural Notes for 霜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the first frost of the season is often associated with harvest time and is celebrated in various festivals. The appearance of 霜 signals a change in season, marking the transition from autumn to winter, which is significant in agricultural practices.
Word Family of 霜
Compounds5
孀shuang1widow
礵
骦shuang1horse
灀
驦shuang1horse
Words Containing This Character19
霜shuāngfrost
雪上加霜xuěshàngjiāshuāngto make things worse in a bad situation
防晒霜suntan lotion防曬霜
砒霜white arsenic
面霜facial cream (cosmetics)
霜冻frost霜凍
风霜wind and frost風霜
冷若冰霜frigid
冰霜austerity
饱经风霜weather-beaten飽經風霜
霜降Shuangjiang or Frost Descends, 18th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 23rd October-6th November
霜花rime
无霜期frost-free period無霜期
金鸡纳霜quinine powder金雞納霜
霜天frosty sky
早霜early frost
霜晨frosty morning
霜害frostbite
白霜hoar frost
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 孀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 霜
霜 (frost) forms from the freezing of water vapor while 雪 (snow) consists of crystallized water falling from the sky.
Yes, 霜 can refer to frosting on cakes or a creamy layer on desserts.
The correct pronunciation is 'shuāng' with a high-level tone.
