Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== bīng: 冰 - Ice ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** bing pinyin, bing character, Chinese character for ice, how to say ice in Chinese, cold in Chinese, what does bing mean, 冰 meaning, Chinese radical for ice, bīngqílín, Harbin Ice Festival, add ice in Chinese * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese character **冰 (bīng)**, which means "ice." This guide covers its basic meaning, from frozen water to the "ice" radical (冫). Discover its cultural significance, such as in the famous Harbin Ice Festival and traditional views on cold drinks. Learn practical phrases like how to order an iced coffee (冰咖啡 bīng kāfēi) or describe someone's "icy" personality (冷冰冰 lěngbīngbīng) in modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bīng * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Adjective * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** The solid, frozen state of water; ice. * **In a Nutshell:** **冰 (bīng)** is the direct word for "ice." It refers to the physical substance you find in your freezer or on a frozen lake. Beyond this literal meaning, it's also used in many compound words to describe things that are ice-cold, frozen, or related to ice, such as "refrigerator" (冰箱 bīngxiāng) or "ice cream" (冰淇淋 bīngqílín). Figuratively, it can describe a person's personality as emotionally cold or distant. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **冰 (bīng):** This character is a logical compound that beautifully illustrates its meaning. It's composed of two parts: * **冫(bīng):** This is the "ice radical." It is a simplified representation of cracks forming on ice or droplets of condensation freezing. On its own, it signifies coldness or ice. * **水 (shuǐ):** This character means "water." * The character **冰** combines the ice radical (冫) with the character for water (水). You can literally read it as "water that has become ice," which is a perfect and easy-to-remember description of its meaning. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Hot vs. Cold Drinks:** While ordering a drink "with ice" (加冰 jiā bīng) is common in modern China, especially among younger generations, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) advises against consuming excessively cold or iced drinks. TCM emphasizes balance, and it's believed that cold substances can disrupt the body's digestive harmony and "qi" (energy). This is why you will often be served warm or hot water (热水 rèshuǐ) by default in traditional restaurants, a stark contrast to the Western custom of serving ice water. * **The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival (哈尔滨国际冰雪节):** **冰** is central to one of China's most spectacular annual events. Held in Harbin, the capital of the northeastern Heilongjiang province, this festival showcases massive, breathtaking sculptures and buildings made entirely of ice and snow, illuminated with colorful lights. It's a testament to the artistic and cultural significance of ice in China's colder regions. * **An "Icy" Personality:** In both English and Chinese, "ice" can describe a person's demeanor. However, the English word "cool" can be positive (stylish, calm). In Chinese, describing someone with **冰** (e.g., 冷冰冰 lěngbīngbīng) is almost exclusively negative, implying they are aloof, unfriendly, and emotionally distant. A "cool" person in the Western sense would be described as 酷 (kù) or 帅 (shuài). ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Ordering Food and Drinks:** This is one of the most common uses for a learner. You'll frequently need to specify your preference for ice. * **加冰 (jiā bīng):** Add ice * **去冰 (qù bīng):** No ice (lit. "remove ice") * **少冰 (shǎo bīng):** Less ice * **正常冰 (zhèngcháng bīng):** Normal amount of ice * **Describing Weather:** When talking about freezing conditions, **冰** is essential. * **结冰 (jié bīng):** To freeze over. (e.g., The lake froze over. 湖结冰了. Hú jié bīng le.) * **Common Nouns:** **冰** is a building block for many everyday words. * **冰箱 (bīngxiāng):** Refrigerator (ice box) * **冰淇淋 (bīngqílín):** Ice cream * **冰块 (bīngkuài):** Ice cube * **Figurative Language:** Used to describe frosty relationships or cold attitudes. * **冷冰冰 (lěngbīngbīng):** A common adjective meaning "ice-cold" in both a literal (cold hands) and figurative (cold attitude) sense. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 天气太冷了，河水都结**冰**了。 * Pinyin: Tiānqì tài lěng le, héshuǐ dōu jié **bīng** le. * English: The weather is so cold that the river water has frozen into ice. * Analysis: Here, 结冰 (jié bīng) is a verb phrase meaning "to freeze over" or "to form ice." * **Example 2:** * 服务员，我的可乐请加**冰**。 * Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, wǒ de kělè qǐng jiā **bīng**. * English: Waiter, please add ice to my Coke. * Analysis: A highly practical sentence for ordering drinks. 加 (jiā) means "to add." * **Example 3:** * 夏天我最喜欢吃西瓜和**冰**淇淋。 * Pinyin: Xiàtiān wǒ zuì xǐhuān chī xīguā hé **bīng**qílín. * English: In the summer, I most like to eat watermelon and ice cream. * Analysis: 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) is a direct and common compound word for "ice cream." * **Example 4:** * 小心，你脚下有**冰**！ * Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn, nǐ jiǎoxià yǒu **bīng**! * English: Be careful, there's ice under your feet! * Analysis: A simple but useful warning. Here, 冰 is used as a standalone noun. * **Example 5:** * 你能从**冰**箱里帮我拿一瓶水吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ néng cóng **bīng**xiāng lǐ bāng wǒ ná yī píng shuǐ ma? * English: Can you get me a bottle of water from the refrigerator? * Analysis: 冰箱 (bīngxiāng), literally "ice box," is the modern word for refrigerator. * **Example 6:** * 分手后，他们俩的关系降到了**冰**点。 * Pinyin: Fēnshǒu hòu, tāmen liǎ de guānxì jiàng dào le **bīng**diǎn. * English: After breaking up, their relationship dropped to the freezing point. * Analysis: A great example of figurative use. 冰点 (bīngdiǎn) means "freezing point" and is used here metaphorically to describe a relationship that has become completely cold. * **Example 7:** * 我们这个周末去滑**冰**，怎么样？ * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhège zhōumò qù huá **bīng**, zěnmeyàng? * English: How about we go ice skating this weekend? * Analysis: 滑冰 (huá bīng) is a verb-object phrase that means "to ice skate" (literally "to slide on ice"). * **Example 8:** * 她的态度冷**冰冰**的，好像很生气。 * Pinyin: Tā de tàidù lěng**bīngbīng** de, hǎoxiàng hěn shēngqì. * English: Her attitude is ice-cold, it seems like she's very angry. * Analysis: 冷冰冰 (lěngbīngbīng) is a reduplicated form that vividly describes an "icy" (unfriendly, cold) demeanor. * **Example 9:** * 这个饮料是**冰**的吗？ * Pinyin: Zhège yǐnliào shì **bīng** de ma? * English: Is this drink iced/cold? * Analysis: Using "是...的" (shì...de) is a common way to ask about the attribute of something. Here, 冰 functions as an adjective. * **Example 10:** * 你想喝**冰**咖啡还是热咖啡？ * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng hē **bīng** kāfēi háishì rè kāfēi? * English: Do you want to drink iced coffee or hot coffee? * Analysis: Shows how 冰 is used directly before a noun to mean "iced," creating a direct contrast with 热 (rè - hot). ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **冰 (bīng) vs. 冷 (lěng):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. * **冷 (lěng)** is the general adjective for "cold." You use it for weather (天气很冷), food that is not hot (饭冷了), or a person's general personality (他很冷). * **冰 (bīng)** is the noun "ice." It can be used adjectivally to mean "iced" or "ice-cold," which is a stronger, more specific kind of cold than 冷. A drink can be `冷的` (cold) or `冰的` (iced), but `冰的` implies it literally has ice in it or is as cold as ice. * **Incorrect:** `今天天气很冰。` (Today's weather is very ice.) * **Correct:** `今天天气很冷。` (Today's weather is very cold.) * **Correct:** `地面上有一层很薄的冰。` (There is a thin layer of ice on the ground.) * **"Cool" is not 冰:** Do not use 冰 to mean "cool" in the sense of stylish or awesome. That would be a direct and incorrect translation. The Chinese equivalent is often the loanword **酷 (kù)**. Describing a person as 冰 implies they are unapproachable and unfriendly. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[冷]] (lěng) - The general adjective for "cold." **冰** is a specific manifestation of **冷**. * [[雪]] (xuě) - Snow. Another form of frozen water, often associated with winter and **冰**. * [[冰箱]] (bīngxiāng) - Refrigerator (lit. "ice box"). An essential household item. * [[冰淇淋]] (bīngqílín) - Ice cream. A popular dessert word derived from **冰**. * [[冰块]] (bīngkuài) - Ice cube (lit. "ice piece/block"). The form of **冰** you put in drinks. * [[滑冰]] (huá bīng) - To ice skate (lit. "slide on ice"). A common winter activity. * [[结冰]] (jié bīng) - To freeze over (lit. "to form ice"). A verb describing the process of water turning to ice. * [[冰山]] (bīngshān) - Iceberg (lit. "ice mountain"). Used literally and figuratively (e.g., 冰山一角 - bīng shān yī jiǎo, "tip of the iceberg"). * [[冰雹]] (bīngbáo) - Hail; hailstones. * [[热水]] (rèshuǐ) - Hot water. The cultural opposite of **冰水** (bīngshuǐ - ice water) in many dining situations.