About
The character 冷, meaning "cold", is formed by combining the radical 冫, which represents ice or frozen water, and the phonetic component 令. While the character's structure has remained consistent, its semantic range has broadened from primarily describing physical low temperature to encompassing metaphorical and psychological states. It developed meanings related to emotional indifference or aloofness, as in 冷淡, and further evolved to denote a calm, dispassionate, and objective frame of mind, as seen in 冷静. This extension from a tangible, sensory experience to abstract qualities of demeanor and thought illustrates a common pattern in the Chinese lexicon where concrete attributes provide a foundation for more complex conceptual meanings.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
今天天气很冷。
我的手有点冷。
他对我很冷淡。
请保持冷静思考。
冷水浴对身体有益。
他的笑话让场面变冷。
寒冬的冷风刺骨地吹。
冷战思维已经过时了。