冷
lěng
cold
冷 means cold. For drinks, 冷的 means cold/iced. In weather, 冷 describes cold temperatures. It is the opposite of 热.
Example sentences
我要一杯冷饮。
Wǒ yào yī bēi lěngyǐn.
I want a cold drink.
今天外面很冷。
Jīntiān wàimiàn hěn lěng.
It is very cold outside today.
How to use 冷 in practice
冷 is a food & drink item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin lěng, then connect it to the meaning “cold” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 我要一杯冷饮。 / 今天外面很冷。.
When you practice 冷, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 冷 only as “cold” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Cafe ordering guide, start a short conversation, and use 冷 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 冷 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only lěng, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
How do I ask for ice in my drink?
Say 请加冰. Many Chinese restaurants serve drinks at room temperature or hot by default, so you may need to ask for ice specifically.
How can I remember 冷 faster?
Say 冷 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 冷 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 冷 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach