冷热 (lěng rè) — temperature; hot and cold (as a concept); ups and downs; fluctuations (in life or feelings)

Definition

冷热 literally pairs the opposites cold and hot, used as a noun for 'temperature' (physical hot-and-cold) and, more abstractly, for life's ups and downs or changing fortunes.

noun
temperaturehot and cold (as a concept)ups and downsfluctuations (in life or feelings)

Examples

  • 冷热，。
    Zhè lǐ de lěng rè biàn huà hěn dà, yào zhù yì bǎo nuǎn.
    The temperature changes a lot here; you need to keep warm.
  • 冷热，。
    Jīng lì guò shēng huó de lěng rè, tā biàn de gèng jiā jiān qiáng le.
    Having experienced life's ups and downs, he became stronger.
  • 冷热。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào néng zì dòng tiáo jié lěng rè.
    This material can automatically regulate temperature.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

冷lěngcold
热rèhot

'冷' (cold) and '热' (hot) together express temperature or ups and downs.

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
冫Written in full as仌bīngice
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng冷lěng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

Open 冷 →

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 熱; 热 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì熱rè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 熱 pairs 埶 with 火 (written as 灬) to show heat, while 埶 gives a sound.

Open 热 →

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