凄

悽/淒
qī
冫 + 妻

Definitions

qī (adjective) cold; frigid
qī (adjective) dismal; bleak; grim; sad; mournful

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 妻 represents the sound. Simplified form of 淒.

Semantic: 冫 Phonetic: 妻

About

The character 凄 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side radical 冫 (bīng) indicates the semantic category of ice or freezing cold, while the right component 妻 (qī, wife) provides the phonetic element. Traditional variants include 淒, with the water radical 氵, and 悽, with the heart radical 忄, which emphasizes emotional distress. The core meaning refers to intense physical coldness or frost. This sensation of chill extends metaphorically to describe profound sadness, misery, loneliness, and the bleak desolation of desolate places.

Example Sentences Hide

冬天的夜晚很凄凉。

Dōngtiān de yèwǎn hěn qīliáng.

Winter nights are very desolate.

他露出了凄惨的笑容。

Tā lùchūle qīcǎn de xiàoróng.

He showed a miserable smile.

雨中的街道显得分外凄凉。

Yǔ zhōng de jiēdào xiǎndé fènwài qīliáng.

The street in the rain appears especially desolate.

战争留下了凄惨的回忆。

Zhànzhēng liú xiàle qīcǎn de huíyì.

The war left behind tragic memories.

凄冷的月光照在空地上。

Qīlěng de yuèguāng zhào zài kòngdì shàng.

The cold and dreary moonlight shines on the empty ground.

她独自一人，感到无比凄楚。

Tā dúzì yī rén, gǎndào wúbǐ qīchǔ.

She is alone and feels immensely sorrowful.

废墟中弥漫着一种凄迷的气氛。

Fèixū zhōng mímàn zhe yī zhǒng qīmí de qìfēn.

A dreary and blurred atmosphere pervades the ruins.

经济萧条给小镇带来了凄凉的景象。

Jīngjì xiāotiáo gěi xiǎo zhèn dàiláile qīliáng de jǐngxiàng.

The economic depression brought a desolate scene to the small town.

Related Characters

Component: 冫

然 次 决 准 况 习 冷 冲 减 弱 冰 净 凉 凝

Component: 妻

萋 郪 悽 棲 淒

Example Words

凄凉 凄美 凄惨 凄苦 凄迷 凄厉 凄凄 凄清 悲凄 凄恻 凄楚 凄然 凄切 凄婉 凄寒 凄惶 凄风苦雨