清凉 (qīng liáng) — (of air, drinks, etc.) cool and refreshing; (of… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

清凉 describes a pleasant, refreshing coolness — air, drinks, a breeze. Lighter and more soothing than 凉爽; gentler than 凉 ('cold'), which can feel uncomfortably chilly.

adjective

(of air, drinks, etc.) cool and refreshing(of clothing) skimpyrevealing

Examples

清凉。
Zhè bēi qīng liáng de níng méng shuǐ fēi cháng hǎo hē.
This glass of cool and refreshing lemonade is very tasty.
清凉。
Shān shàng de qīng liáng kōng qì ràng rén gǎn jué hěn shū fu.
The cool and refreshing mountain air makes people feel very comfortable.
清凉，。
Nà tiáo qīng liáng de qún zi tài duǎn le, bú shì hé shàng bān chuān.
That skimpy dress is too short, not suitable for work.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

清 and 凉 both suggest a fresh coolness, together giving a refreshing, cool feel.

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.

氵青清

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng清qīng

Same sound today

清 has 氵 (water) on the left and 青 on the right to show its sound.

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 涼; 凉 is its simplified writing.

氵京涼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng涼liáng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 涼 combines 氵 (water) with 京, which gives the sound; the simplified 凉 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Weather

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