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冰镇 (bīng zhèn) — iced (for drinks)

Definition

Used to describe drinks or food that has been chilled on ice — specifically placed on/in ice to get cold. Pairs directly with the noun (冰镇可乐, 冰镇啤酒), unlike 凉 (liáng) which just means 'cool/cold.'

adjective
iced (for drinks)

Examples

  • 冰镇。
    Xià tiān wǒ xǐ huan hē bīng zhèn kě lè.
    In summer I like to drink iced cola.
  • 冰镇。
    Fú wù yuán duān lái le yì bēi bīng zhèn guǒ zhī.
    The waiter brought a glass of iced juice.
  • 冰镇。
    Zhè bēi bīng zhèn shuǐ tài liáng le.
    This glass of iced water is too cold.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

冰bīngice
镇zhènchill

冰 (ice) and 镇 (chill) combine to mean iced.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
冫
仌bīng冰bīng
Same sound today

冰 adds 水 (water) to 冫, the short form of 仌; 冫 gives the sound, and 水 shows the meaning.

Open 冰 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鎮; 镇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
真
真zhēn鎮zhèn
Same sound today

The traditional form 鎮 uses 金, metal, and 真, which gave its sound; it depicted pressing down with a metal weight. The simplified 镇 is a later abbreviation.

Open 镇 →
Appears in
Beverages

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