凉 (liáng) — cool, cold
Definition
凉 means 'cool' — mild, pleasant coolness (a breeze, a drink). It's lighter than 冷 (cold), which describes harsh, uncomfortable cold.
adjective
coolcold
Examples
- ，。Wài miàn yǒu liáng fēng, hěn shū fu.There's a cool breeze outside, very comfortable.
- ？liáng Shuǐ kě yǐ hē ma?Can I drink cold water?
- 凉，。Fàn liáng le, zài rè yí xià.The food has gotten cold, heat it up again.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
The traditional form 涼 combines 氵 (water) with 京, which gives the sound; the simplified 凉 is a later abbreviation.
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