冰霜 (bīng shuāng) — ice and frost; moral integrity (figurative); austerity (of living conditions or sternness of demeanor)

Definition

Literally 'ice and frost,' used figuratively for cold, stern demeanor or moral uprightness — like facing a 'cold and frosty' person, not showing emotion.

noun
ice and frostmoral integrity (figurative)austerity (of living conditions or sternness of demeanor)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 冰霜。
    Lù miàn shàng jié le yī céng bīng shuāng.
    A layer of ice and frost has formed on the road.
  • 冰霜，。
    Tā wèi rén yǒu bīng shuāng, cóng bù tuǒ xié.
    He has moral integrity and never compromises.
  • 冰霜。
    Tā men guò zhe bīng shuāng bān de shēng huó.
    They live an austere, harsh life.

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.

冰bīngice
霜shuāngfrost

冰霜 joins 冰 and 霜, two cold forms, and can extend to integrity or austerity.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng霜shuāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

霜 has 雨 (rain) on top for weather and 相 (xiāng) below for the sound.

Open 霜 →

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