The Chinese language is brimming with rich, often quite intuitive imagery hiding in seemingly mundane, commonplace vocabulary. One of countless examples of an elementary character which shows an unexpected flexibility, yet gradually reveals a dark underside is 冷 (lěng). As other articles in this series demonstrate, the Chinese learner can gradually “feel” his or her way around the vast expanse of the Chinese language by becoming familiar with the nuances of these basic characters. In short, 冷 is worth getting to know.

The character is fairly standard in its composition, combining the phonetic “令” (lìng) with 冫, the radical for “ice”. Notice 冫(两点水 “two drops of water) is the radical for 冰 (ice, bīng), and is different from the radical 氵(三点水 ”three drops of water”), the radical for 水 (water, shuǐ).

In its most common form, 冷 simply means “cold”. “It’s cold today” (今天好冷 Jīntiān hǎo lěng) or “The Dongbei region of China is so cold” (中国东北太冷了 Zhōngguó Dōngběi tài lěng le) are basic examples where it can be translated directly as “cold temperature”. An air cooler (冷风机 lěngfēng jī) blowing some cold air (冷气 lěngqì) is something readers in sweltering Beijing this summer are currently fantasizing about.

冷 can be used in several instances to describe somebody’s personality. A person acting 冷静 (lěngjìng) is “calm and sober”, as in 在压力之下保持冷静 (keeping calm under the pressure, zài yālì zhīxià bǎochí lěngjìng). You can implore somebody getting anxious or rowdy to “冷静下来吧!” (Calm down please! Lěngjìngxiàlái bā).

Yet there is a much darker side to 冷. 冷落 (lěngluò) is particularly bleak, but notably flexible; 受到他人的冷落 (shòudào tārén de lěngluò) is to be snubbed or neglected by somebody, 冷落地区 (lěngluò dìqū) is a sparsely populated area, and 冷落对待 (lěngluò duìdài) is to be treated with indifference or a lack of enthusiasm. 冷僻 (lěngpì) is strange or rare, and 冷寂 (lěngjì) is foreboding or lonely. The deserted room (冷寂的房间 lěngjì de fángjiān) is the room at the hotel you should probably avoid. 冷清 (lěngqīng) is cheerless or lonely, for example, “He lives by himself and always feels lonely” (他独自一人生活，总有冷清之感, Tā dúzì yì rén shēnghuó, zǒng yǒu lěngqīng zhī gǎn) is somebody who is in need of a cordial visit.

冷遇 (lěngyù) and 冷待 (lěng dài) are both ways you do not want to be greeted, meaning a “chilly reception” or “cold shoulder”. 冷淡(lěngdàn) and 冷漠 (lěngmò) both mean aloof. For example, “He looks aloof and absent-minded” (他外表冷漠， 好像他心不在焉, Tā wàibiǎo lěngmò, hǎoxiàng tāxīnbúzàiyān) is somebody who isn’t granting you the time of day, or acts like they have somewhere better to be.

冷 can also delve into even more menacing territory. 冷眼 (lěngyǎn) is a “cold stare”. As a quick Baidu image search reveals, 冷酷无情 (lěngkùwúqíng), meaning “ruthless”, is a phrase used to describe villains. In a perhaps not so surprising twist, 冷枪 (lěngqiāng) is a “a shot from a sniper”.

In several instances, 冷 is the exact opposite of 热 (hot, rè). Where a fad or mainstream trend can be popular (热门rèmén), something unpopular or non-mainstream is 冷门 (lěngmén). In sports, a “dark horse” (黑马 hēimǎ) or a team not expected to win but finding modest success, is said to “explode from the cold gate” 爆冷门 (bàolěngmén). The iPhone4S is a best-seller (热货 (rè huò), while the poor old Blackberry is an outdated product (冷货 lěnghuò).

Yet it’s not all is doom and gloom for 冷. 冷话 (lěng huà) is sarcasm, and there are pages and pages on internet forums of netizens’ favorite cold joke (冷笑话 lěng xiào huà). If the 冷笑话 your friend tells you isn’t funny? Shoot him a disparaging look (冷眉冷眼 lěngméi lěngyǎn). Your message should be clear.

Ben Sangree leads marketing efforts for FluentFlix. FluentFlix is a new way to learn Chinese through authentic video content like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks. With engaging and immersive content, FluentFlix empowers users to learn with fun videos exhibiting the diversity and vibrancy of modern Chinese culture.