Definition
冷战 (lěng zhàn) has two distinct uses: (1) the Cold War, the historical period of geopolitical tension between the US and the Soviet Union; (2) a figurative 'cold war' — a state of prolonged silence and tension between two people (e.g., a couple). The second meaning is a common metaphorical extension in everyday Chinese.
noun
the Cold War (historical period of geopolitical tension between the US and Soviet Union)(figurative) a cold wara state of mutual silence and tension between two people
Examples
- 冷战20。lěng zhàn shì èrshí shìjì shìjiè lìshǐ de zhòngyào jiēduàn.The Cold War was an important phase in 20th-century world history.
- 冷战。Tāmen fūqī zhījiān zhèngzài jīnglì yì chǎng lěng zhàn.The couple is going through a cold war between them.
- 冷战。lěng zhàn ràng tāmen de guānxì biàn de hěn jǐnzhāng.The cold war made their relationship very strained.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.