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A2 adjective 8 min de lecture

冷清

lengqing

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 冷清 en 30 secondes

Explication 冷清 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '冷清' (lěngqīng) as a way to say a place has 'no people' or is 'not busy'. It is the opposite of '热闹' (rènao), which means 'busy' or 'fun'. For example, if you go to a shop and there are no customers, you can say '这家商店很冷清'. At this stage, just remember it describes a place that feels empty and quiet in a slightly sad way. You will use it with '很' (hěn - very) or '太' (tài - too). It is a useful word for describing your surroundings when you travel or talk about your hometown. Don't worry about the deep poetic meanings yet; just use it for empty streets, empty rooms, or empty restaurants. It helps you express that a place feels a bit lonely because no one is there.

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At the A2 level, you should start using '冷清' to describe both places and social situations. You can use the structure 'Noun + 很冷清' to talk about a variety of settings. For instance, '晚会很冷清' means the party was not lively because few people attended. You are also learning to use '变得' (biànde - to become), so you can say '下雨以后，公园变得冷清了' (After it rained, the park became deserted). You should also begin to recognize the difference between '安静' (quiet/peaceful) and '冷清' (quiet/deserted). Use '冷清' when the lack of people makes the place feel a bit 'cold' or 'boring'. This word is very common in daily life when discussing whether a place is worth visiting or why a business might be closing.

At the B1 level, you can use '冷清' more flexibly as an attributive adjective, such as '冷清的街道' (a deserted street). You should also understand its use in business contexts, like '生意冷清' (business is slack). This is a very common expression in Chinese-speaking communities. You can start exploring the reduplicated form '冷冷清清' (lěnglěng-qīngqīng), which emphasizes the feeling of desolation and is often used in writing to create a stronger mood. At this level, you should also be able to distinguish '冷清' from more specific words like '偏僻' (remote). A place can be in the center of the city but still be '冷清' if it's the middle of the night. You are starting to use this word to set the scene in your own stories or descriptions of your life.

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At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced grasp of the emotional weight '冷清' carries. It is not just about the number of people; it is about the 'atmosphere' (气氛). You can use it to describe the feeling of a home after someone has moved out, or the vibe of a city during a holiday when everyone has left. You should also be able to compare '冷清' with '萧条' (economic desolation) and '荒凉' (physical barrenness). In your writing, '冷清' can be used to reflect a character's internal state through their surroundings (pathetic fallacy). For example, a character who is feeling neglected might perceive their usually busy office as '冷清'. You should also be comfortable using it in more formal discussions about urban development or social changes, such as the '冷清' state of traditional brick-and-mortar stores due to e-commerce.

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At the C1 level, you are expected to use '冷清' and its variants (like '冷清清' or '凄清') with stylistic precision. You should understand its historical and literary resonance, particularly its use in classical poetry to signify a profound, existential loneliness. You can use '冷清' in sophisticated analyses of literature or film to describe the 'mise-en-scène'. Furthermore, you should be able to use the word in metaphorical ways, such as describing a '冷清' reception to a new idea or a '冷清' period in an artist's career. Your understanding of the word should include its social implications—how '冷清' is often viewed negatively in a culture that prizes '热闹' (liveliness) as a sign of prosperity and communal health. You can discuss the '冷清' of rural villages as a symptom of urbanization and demographic shifts.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of '冷清' is near-native. You can use it to evoke subtle shades of meaning in creative writing, academic papers, or high-level professional contexts. You understand the subtle interplay between the literal 'coldness' and the metaphorical 'emptiness' of the word. You can effortlessly switch between '冷清', '凄清', '萧条', '寂寥', and '荒芜' to achieve the exact tone required. You are aware of how the concept of '冷清' has evolved in modern Chinese discourse, perhaps touching on 'lonely economy' or the psychological 'coldness' of digital interactions. You can appreciate and analyze the use of '冷清' in the works of authors like Lu Xun or Eileen Chang, where the word often carries heavy social and psychological baggage. Your usage is characterized by an intuitive sense of when the word adds the perfect 'chilly' note to a description.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

冷清 en 30 secondes

Describes a place that is deserted or lacking activity.
Often carries a slightly sad or lonely emotional undertone.
Commonly used for streets, shops, homes, and social events.
The direct opposite of '热闹' (lively/bustling).

The Chinese word 冷清 (lěngqīng) is a evocative adjective that describes an atmosphere or a place that is deserted, desolate, or quiet to the point of being lonely. It is composed of two characters: 冷 (lěng) meaning 'cold' and 清 (qīng) meaning 'clear' or 'pure'. Together, they create an image of a space that lacks the 'heat' of human activity and the 'noise' of life, leaving behind a chilly, empty stillness. You will most frequently encounter this word when describing physical locations like streets, shops, or houses that are unexpectedly empty, but it can also describe a social situation or even a time of year where the usual festivities are missing.

Atmospheric Desolation: This is the primary use. It describes a place that feels empty and lacks the bustle of people. If a popular mall usually teeming with shoppers is suddenly empty on a Monday morning, it is described as 冷清.

下雨了，街道上变得非常冷清。 (It started raining, and the streets became very deserted.)

Social Loneliness: It can describe a gathering that lacks energy or has very few participants. If you host a party and only two people show up, the atmosphere is 冷清.

In literature and daily speech, '冷清' evokes a sense of abandonment. It is not just that a place is quiet; it is that the presence of people is conspicuously absent. For example, an elderly person living alone in a large house might feel the house is '冷清', emphasizing the lack of family warmth and noise. It is a word that appeals to both the sense of sight (seeing no one) and touch (the figurative 'coldness' of isolation).

这家餐厅因为味道不好，生意很冷清。 (Because the food tastes bad, the business is very slack/deserted.)

Understanding '冷清' requires recognizing that it is an objective observation mixed with a subjective feeling. When you say a place is '冷清', you are not just counting the people; you are commenting on the lack of vibrancy. During the Lunar New Year, if a city's residents all return to their hometowns, the normally busy metropolis becomes '冷清'. This specific type of emptiness is a hallmark of the word's usage.

Using 冷清 (lěngqīng) correctly involves placing it as a predicate or an attributive adjective. It most commonly follows the adverb '很' (hěn - very), '非常' (fēicháng - extremely), or '太' (tài - too). It is used to describe nouns related to places (streets, rooms, buildings) or abstract concepts like 'atmosphere' (气氛 - qìfēn) and 'business' (生意 - shēngyì).

Structure 1: Subject + Adverb + 冷清: This is the simplest way to describe a scene. Example: '公园里很冷清' (It is very deserted in the park).

孩子们走后，家里变得冷清了许多。 (After the children left, the home became much more desolate.)

Structure 2: 冷清的 + Noun: Used to modify a noun directly. Example: '冷清的街道' (A deserted street).

One important nuance is that '冷清' can be used to describe the state of a business. In Chinese commerce, if a shop has no customers, you say its 'business is cold and clear' (生意冷清). This is the direct antonym of '生意兴隆' (shēngyì xīnglóng - business is booming). Using '冷清' in this context implies a lack of success or popularity.

冬天的海滩总是那么冷清。 (The beach in winter is always that deserted.)

When describing people's feelings, '冷清' is usually used indirectly. Instead of saying 'I feel 冷清' (which is incorrect—you should use '寂寞' or '孤独'), you describe your environment as '冷清' to reflect your internal state. For instance, '一个人过节，感觉挺冷清的' (Celebrating a festival alone feels quite lonely/desolate). Here, the 'desolation' refers to the situation, which then impacts the person's mood.

You will hear 冷清 (lěngqīng) in various real-life scenarios, ranging from casual observations to news reports and literature. It is a common word in the vocabulary of urban life and social dynamics.

In Daily Conversation: Friends might use it when discussing a new restaurant or a party. '昨天晚上的晚会挺冷清的，没几个人去' (Last night's party was quite deserted; not many people went).

这个商场以前很热闹，现在怎么这么冷清？ (This mall used to be very lively, why is it so deserted now?)

In News and Media: Journalists use it to describe the economic state of a market or the impact of an event. During the pandemic, news headlines frequently used '冷清' to describe the empty tourist attractions and city centers worldwide.

In literature, '冷清' is a powerful tool for setting a mood. Famous poets like Li Qingzhao used the reduplicated form '冷冷清清' in the masterpiece 'Sheng Sheng Man' to convey a deep, soul-crushing loneliness. In modern novels, it might describe a character's house after a divorce or the state of a village where all the young people have left to work in the city.

春节期间，大城市里反而显得有些冷清。 (During the Spring Festival, the big cities actually seem a bit deserted.)

Finally, you might hear it in the context of '冷清清' (lěngqīngqīng), a variation that adds a descriptive suffix, making the 'coldness' feel more palpable. Whether it is a quiet library, an empty theater, or a struggling bookstore, '冷清' is the go-to word for that specific feeling of 'missing the crowd'.

While 冷清 (lěngqīng) is a common word, learners often confuse it with other words meaning 'quiet' or 'lonely'. Understanding these distinctions is key to sounding natural in Chinese.

Confusing 冷清 with 安静 (ānjìng): '安静' means quiet or peaceful. It is usually positive or neutral. A library is '安静'. '冷清' implies a lack of people or activity that *should* or *could* be there. If a library is '冷清', it sounds like no one is using it and it might be failing.

Mistake: 这个教室很冷清，因为学生都在听课。 (Incorrect if you mean 'quiet'.)
Correct: 这个教室很安静。

Confusing 冷清 with 孤独 (gūdú) or 寂寞 (jìmò): '孤独' and '寂寞' describe a person's internal feeling of being alone. '冷清' describes the external environment. You cannot say '我很冷清' (I am very deserted). You must say '我觉得很寂寞' or '我住的地方很冷清'.

Another common error is using '冷清' to describe a person's personality as 'cold'. In Chinese, if a person is cold or aloof, you use '冷淡' (lěngdàn) or '高冷' (gāolěng). '冷清' is strictly for scenes and atmospheres. For example, describing a person's eyes as '冷清' is poetic but rare; describing their attitude as '冷清' is generally incorrect.

Mistake: 他是一个很冷清的人。 (Wrong for personality.)
Correct: 他是一个很冷淡的人。

Lastly, remember that '冷清' usually carries a hint of sadness or disappointment. If you are happy that a place is quiet because you want to study, '安静' is better. If you are sad that a place is quiet because it’s boring or empty, '冷清' is the right choice. Misusing the tone can confuse the listener about your feelings regarding the situation.

To enrich your Chinese, it is helpful to know words that are similar to 冷清 (lěngqīng) but carry slightly different nuances. Here is a comparison of common alternatives.

冷清 (lěngqīng) vs. 萧条 (xiāotiáo): '冷清' is about the atmosphere and lack of people. '萧条' is more formal and often used to describe economic desolation or a bleak, withered landscape. You would use '经济萧条' for an economic depression, but '街道冷清' for an empty street.

冷清 (lěngqīng) vs. 荒凉 (huāngliáng): '荒凉' describes a place that is wild, uncultivated, or barren, like a desert or an abandoned village. '冷清' can describe a modern city street that just happens to be empty at the moment. '荒凉' implies a long-term lack of life or maintenance.

这片废墟看上去非常荒凉。 (These ruins look very desolate/barren.)

冷清 (lěngqīng) vs. 偏僻 (piānpì): '偏僻' means remote or out-of-the-way. A place can be '偏僻' but still '热闹' if there's a festival happening there. '冷清' is about the immediate lack of activity, regardless of location.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might see '凄清' (qīqīng), which combines 'cold/clear' with 'miserable'. This is a much stronger word than '冷清' and is almost always used to convey deep sadness. On the other hand, if you want to say something is 'quiet' in a positive, elegant way, you could use '幽静' (yōujìng), often used for gardens or temples.

山里的寺庙非常幽静。 (The temple in the mountains is very quiet and secluded.)

Choosing the right word depends on the 'flavor' of the silence you want to describe. Is it the silence of a failed business (冷清/萧条), the silence of a desert (荒凉), the silence of a peaceful park (幽静), or the silence of an empty house (冷清)? By mastering these distinctions, you can describe environments with much greater precision.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The famous female poet Li Qingzhao (1084–1155) immortalized this word in her poem 'Sheng Sheng Man', using it to describe her state after the death of her husband and the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Guide de prononciation

UK /lʌŋ tʃɪŋ/

US /lʌŋ tʃɪŋ/

Primary stress on the first syllable 'lěng'.

Rime avec

等 (děng) 整 (zhěng) 省 (shěng) 明 (míng) 听 (tīng) 星 (xīng) 静 (jìng) 情 (qíng)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'qīng' as 'kīng'. It should be a 'ch' sound with a lot of air.
Using the wrong tone for 'lěng' (e.g., first tone instead of third).
Mixing up 'qīng' with 'qìng' (fourth tone).
Failing to distinguish the 'q' sound from 'j'.
Pronouncing 'lěng' like 'long' instead of 'lung'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Characters are relatively common (A2/B1 level).

Écriture 3/5

Writing '清' correctly requires attention to the water radical and the 'qīng' phonetic.

Expression orale 2/5

Easy to pronounce if you master the 'q' sound.

Écoute 2/5

Distinctive sound, easy to recognize in context.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

冷 (lěng) 清 (qīng) 很 (hěn) 地方 (dìfang) 人 (rén)

Apprends ensuite

热闹 (rènao) 安静 (ānjìng) 生意 (shēngyì) 气氛 (qìfēn) 孤独 (gūdú)

Avancé

萧条 (xiāotiáo) 荒凉 (huāngliáng) 凄清 (qīqīng) 寂寥 (jìliáo) 幽静 (yōujìng)

Grammaire à connaître

Reduplication of Disyllabic Adjectives (AABB)

冷清 -> 冷冷清清 (To emphasize the state).

Using '得' for degree/result

这里冷清得让人害怕。

Adverbial use with '地'

他冷清地坐在角落里。

Using '显得' to express appearance

这个房间显得很冷清。

Using '变得' to express change

由于很多人搬走，村子变得冷清了。

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Exemples par niveau

这里很冷清。

It is very deserted here.

Simple Subject + Adverb + Adjective structure.

商店里没有客人，很冷清。

There are no customers in the shop, it's very deserted.

Using '冷清' to describe a lack of customers.

今天街道上很冷清。

The streets are very deserted today.

Describing a physical location.

因为太冷了，公园很冷清。

Because it's too cold, the park is very deserted.

Explaining the cause of the desolation.

他家很大，但是很冷清。

His house is big, but very deserted.

Contrast between size and atmosphere.

晚饭时，餐厅很冷清。

At dinner time, the restaurant was very deserted.

Time-based description.

周末的办公室很冷清。

The office is very deserted on weekends.

Describing a workplace.

这儿不热闹，很冷清。

It's not lively here, it's very deserted.

Antonym contrast.

下雨以后，操场变得很冷清。

After it rained, the playground became very deserted.

Using '变得' to show a change in state.

这个晚会一点也不热闹，非常冷清。

This party isn't lively at all; it's very deserted.

Using '一点也不' for emphasis.

冬天的时候，海边总是很冷清。

In winter, the seaside is always very deserted.

Generalizing a situation with '总是'.

由于价格太高，这家店生意很冷清。

Due to the high prices, this shop's business is very slack.

Introducing a reason with '由于'.

搬家后，旧房子变得冷清了。

After moving, the old house became deserted.

Describing the result of an action.

他不喜欢冷清的地方，他喜欢热闹。

He doesn't like deserted places; he likes lively ones.

Expressing preference.

深夜的车站非常冷清。

The station is very deserted late at night.

Specific time and place.

虽然是节日，但家里却很冷清。

Although it's a festival, the home is actually quite deserted.

Concession clause using '虽然...但...却'.

走在冷清的街道上，他感到一丝孤独。

Walking on the deserted street, he felt a hint of loneliness.

Using '冷清' as an attributive adjective with '的'.

这家电影院因为位置偏僻，生意一直很冷清。

Because this cinema is in a remote location, its business has always been very slack.

Linking location to business state.

孩子们都去上学了，家里显得冷冷清清的。

The children have all gone to school, and the house seems quite deserted.

Using the reduplicated form '冷冷清清' for emphasis.

如果没有音乐，这个派对会变得很冷清。

Without music, this party would become very deserted.

Conditional sentence.

他住在一个冷清的小镇上，生活很平静。

He lives in a deserted little town; life is very peaceful.

Using '冷清' to describe a town's character.

由于疫情，原本热闹的景区现在变得十分冷清。

Due to the pandemic, the originally bustling scenic spot has now become very deserted.

Using '原本...现在...' to show contrast.

他不习惯这种冷清的气氛，很快就离开了。

He wasn't used to this deserted atmosphere and left quickly.

Describing an 'atmosphere' (气氛).

在这个冷清的季节，人们更喜欢待在家里。

In this deserted season, people prefer to stay at home.

Applying '冷清' to a season.

随着年轻人的外流，这个村庄变得越来越冷清了。

With the outflow of young people, this village has become increasingly deserted.

Using '随着' to indicate a trend.

尽管商家做了很多促销，但商场依然显得很冷清。

Despite many promotions by businesses, the mall still appears very deserted.

Using '尽管...但...依然' for strong contrast.

这种冷清的局面如果不改变，公司可能会倒闭。

If this deserted situation doesn't change, the company might go bankrupt.

Describing a 'situation' (局面).

她独自一人住在空旷的大房子里，倍感冷清。

She lives alone in a vast house and feels doubly deserted/lonely.

Using '倍感' (feel doubly) to intensify the feeling.

往日熙熙攘攘的码头，如今却冷清得让人难受。

The once-bustling pier is now so deserted that it makes people feel uncomfortable.

Using '...得让人...' to express the effect on people.

这场演出的观众寥寥无几，场面十分冷清。

There were very few audience members for this performance, making the scene very deserted.

Using '寥寥无几' (very few) as a cause.

他试图打破这冷清的沉默，但不知道该说什么。

He tried to break this deserted silence but didn't know what to say.

Metaphorical use with 'silence' (沉默).

新政策实施后，原本火爆的房地产市场一下子冷清了下来。

After the new policy was implemented, the originally hot real estate market suddenly cooled down/became deserted.

Using '一下子...了下来' to show a sudden change.

在这部电影中，导演用冷清的色调营造出一种压抑的氛围。

In this movie, the director uses deserted/cold tones to create an oppressive atmosphere.

Describing artistic 'tones' (色调).

书店里冷清的景象，折射出实体书店面临的生存困境。

The deserted scene in the bookstore reflects the survival difficulties faced by physical bookstores.

Using '折射' (reflect) for social commentary.

他那冷清的文字里，透露出一种对世俗的疏离感。

In his deserted/chilly writing, a sense of alienation from the mundane world is revealed.

Metaphorical use describing a style of writing.

由于缺乏维护，这座昔日的皇家园林如今显得格外冷清凄凉。

Due to a lack of maintenance, this former royal garden now appears exceptionally deserted and desolate.

Combining '冷清' with '凄凉' (miserable/desolate).

晚年的他，生活在冷清的郊区，很少与外界往来。

In his later years, he lived in a deserted suburb and had little contact with the outside world.

Describing a stage of life and environment.

这个曾经繁华的工业区，在工厂搬迁后彻底冷清了下去。

This once-prosperous industrial zone became completely deserted after the factories moved out.

Using '彻底...了下去' for complete change.

面对冷清的开幕式，主办方显得有些尴尬。

Facing the deserted opening ceremony, the organizers appeared somewhat embarrassed.

Describing a specific event's reception.

这种冷清并非因为缺乏关注，而是因为其门槛过高。

This desolation is not due to a lack of attention, but because the entry requirements are too high.

Analyzing the cause of the '冷清' state.

李清照词中的‘冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚’，道尽了国破家亡后的极致哀愁。

The line 'Cold and clear, miserable and sad' in Li Qingzhao's poem fully expresses the ultimate sorrow after the fall of her country and the loss of her home.

Literary analysis of a famous classical poem.

在这座钢筋水泥的森林里，冷清的不仅是街道，更是人们日渐疏远的心灵。

In this forest of steel and concrete, it is not just the streets that are deserted, but more so the increasingly alienated hearts of the people.

Philosophical/Metaphorical use of the word.

他以一种近乎冷清的客观视角，审视着这场闹剧般的社会变革。

He examines this farce-like social change from a nearly deserted/detached objective perspective.

Using '冷清' to describe a detached perspective.

这种冷清的背后，隐藏着深刻的社会转型阵痛。

Behind this desolation lies the profound growing pains of social transformation.

Using '冷清' to represent a social phenomenon.

艺术家试图通过冷清的构图，引导观众思考存在的虚无感。

The artist attempts to guide the audience to contemplate the sense of existential nothingness through a deserted composition.

Art criticism terminology.

在这个物欲横流的时代，保持一份心灵的冷清或许是一种智慧。

In this era of rampant materialism, maintaining a sense of mental 'coldness/quietude' might be a form of wisdom.

Positive reinterpretation of the word's components.

繁华落尽后的冷清，往往比从未繁华过更加令人唏嘘。

The desolation after prosperity has faded is often more sigh-inducing than never having been prosperous at all.

Abstract comparison of states.

他的画作常以冷清的秋景为题，抒发怀才不遇的郁闷。

His paintings often take deserted autumn scenes as their theme to express the frustration of unrecognized talent.

Describing artistic themes and emotions.

Collocations courantes

生意冷清

街道冷清

气氛冷清

显得冷清

格外冷清

十分冷清

冷清的景象

场面冷清

变得冷清

冷清的角落

Phrases Courantes

冷冷清清

— The reduplicated form, emphasizing a state of extreme desolation and loneliness.

家里冷冷清清的，他感到很难过。

冷清清

— An adjective with a suffix that adds a descriptive, palpable sense of 'chilly' quiet.

屋子里冷清清的，连个说话的人都没有。

冷清地过节

— To spend a holiday in a lonely or quiet way without celebrations.

今年他只能一个人冷清地过节了。

门前冷清

— Describes a place (usually a shop or home) where very few people visit.

自从新路开通后，老店门前就冷清了。

生意越来越冷清

— Business is becoming more and more slack.

由于竞争激烈，他的生意越来越冷清。

一片冷清

— A stretch of desolation; used to describe a wide scene.

工厂停产后，这里变得一片冷清。

冷清的月光

— Describing moonlight that feels chilly and lonely.

冷清的月光洒在空无一人的街道上。

感到冷清

— To feel the desolation of one's surroundings.

在这个陌生的城市，他常感到冷清。

冷清的客房

— A deserted guest room.

旅馆里到处是冷清的客房。

冷清的夜晚

— A quiet and lonely night.

在那些冷清的夜晚，他总是想起家乡。

Souvent confondu avec

冷清 vs 安静

安静 is just quiet/peaceful; 冷清 is quiet because people are missing (desolate).

冷清 vs 寂寞

寂寞 is an internal feeling of a person; 冷清 is the external state of a place.

冷清 vs 冷淡

冷淡 describes a person's cold attitude; 冷清 describes a scene's emptiness.

Expressions idiomatiques

"门可罗雀"

— So deserted that one can catch sparrows at the doorstep; describes a complete lack of visitors.

这家书店以前人很多，现在却是门可罗雀。

Literary/Formal

"冷冷清清"

— Desolate and lonely (reduplicated form of 冷清).

寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚。

Literary/Common

"凄凄清清"

— Miserable and deserted; emphasizes the sadness of the silence.

晚风吹过，庭院里显得凄凄清清。

Literary

"门庭冷落"

— The courtyard is deserted; very few visitors or customers.

官员下台后，家里立刻门庭冷落了。

Formal

"万径人踪灭"

— On all paths, human footprints have vanished (from a poem); extreme desolation.

大雪过后，山林里真是万径人踪灭，十分冷清。

Poetic

"孤苦伶仃"

— Solitary and poor; describes a person's state, often in a 冷清 environment.

他一个人孤苦伶仃地住在冷清的老屋里。

Idiomatic

"荒无人烟"

— Desolate and uninhabited; much stronger than 冷清.

这里是一片荒无人烟的戈壁滩。

Formal

"门庭若市"

— The courtyard is like a market (Antonym); very crowded.

这家店生意兴隆，门庭若市，一点也不冷清。

Formal

"鸦雀无声"

— Not even a crow or sparrow can be heard; absolute silence.

老师走进教室，里面立刻鸦雀无声，显得有些冷清。

Common

"形单影只"

— Single body, solitary shadow; describing a person's loneliness.

他形单影只地走在冷清的街头。

Literary

Facile à confondre

冷清 vs 萧条

Both mean deserted/slack.

萧条 is more formal and often refers to economic recession or withered nature. 冷清 is more common for daily atmospheres.

这条街很冷清。 / 经济非常萧条。

冷清 vs 荒凉

Both imply desolation.

荒凉 suggests a place is barren or wild (like a desert). 冷清 suggests a place simply lacks people (like an empty mall).

荒凉的沙漠。 / 冷清的商场。

冷清 vs 孤独

Both relate to being alone.

孤独 is a person's state or feeling of isolation. 冷清 is the atmosphere of a place.

他很孤独。 / 他的房间很冷清。

冷清 vs 清静

Both mean quiet.

清静 is usually positive (peaceful). 冷清 is usually negative (desolate).

这里很清静，适合看书。 / 这里太冷清了，一点也不好玩。

冷清 vs 偏僻

Both imply being away from crowds.

偏僻 refers to location (remote). 冷清 refers to activity (deserted). A remote place can be busy.

这个村子很偏僻。 / 今天的街道很冷清。

Structures de phrases

Place + 很冷清。

商店里很冷清。

Place + 变得 + 很冷清。

下雨了，公园变得很冷清。

冷清的 + Noun

他走在冷清的街道上。

Subject + 显得 + 冷冷清清。

家里显得冷冷清清。

由于...，...很冷清。

由于价格太高，生意很冷清。

冷清的景象 + 折射出...

冷清的景象折射出经济的衰退。

以...为题，抒发...的冷清。

画作以秋景为题，抒发了内心的冷清。

并非...，而是...的冷清。

这种冷清并非因为无人问津，而是因为门槛太高。

Famille de mots

Noms

冷清感 (lěngqīnggǎn - sense of desolation)

Adjectifs

冷清 (lěngqīng - deserted)

冷清清 (lěngqīngqīng - very deserted)

冷冷清清 (lěnglěngqīngqīng - desolate)

Apparenté

冷 (lěng - cold)

清 (qīng - clear)

清冷 (qīnglěng - chilly and quiet)

凄清 (qīqīng - miserable and cold)

寂静 (jìjìng - quiet)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Erreurs courantes

我很冷清。 → 我觉得很寂寞。
You cannot use '冷清' to describe a person's feelings directly. Use '寂寞' or '孤独' for people.
这个教室很冷清，学生们都在安静地看书。 → 这个教室很安静，学生们都在安静地看书。
'冷清' implies a negative lack of people. If students are there but just quiet, use '安静'.
他是一个冷清的人。 → 他是一个冷淡的人。
'冷清' is for places and atmosphere, not personality. Use '冷淡' for a cold person.
今天天气很冷清。 → 今天天气很冷。
'冷清' is not used to describe the temperature of the weather.
这里很冷清，我很喜欢这种和平。 → 这里很清静，我很喜欢这种宁静。
If you like the quietness, use '清静' or '宁静'. '冷清' usually implies you *don't* like how empty it is.

Astuces

Pair it with '生意'

One of the most useful ways to use this word is describing a lack of business. If a shop is empty, say '生意冷清'.

Don't confuse with '冷淡'

Remember: '冷清' is for places, '冷淡' is for people's attitudes. Don't call a person '冷清'.

Master the 3rd Tone

Make sure 'lěng' dips. If you say it with a flat tone, it might be confused with other words.

Opposite of '热闹'

Always think of '冷清' as the 'sad' opposite of the 'happy' '热闹'. This helps you get the feeling right.

Use Reduplication

In your essays, use '冷冷清清' to sound more advanced and poetic when describing a lonely scene.

Listen for '气氛'

When you hear '气氛' (atmosphere) and '冷清' together, it's usually about a social event that didn't go well.

Learn the Radicals

The water radical in '清' and the ice radical in '冷' both hint at the 'chilly' nature of the word.

Urban vs. Rural

'冷清' can be used for both. An empty city street is '冷清', and a dying village is also '冷清'.

Pathetic Fallacy

Use '冷清' to describe a place that reflects a character's internal loneliness.

High Utility

This is a HSK/CEFR standard word. Practice it often as it appears in many reading materials.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Cold' (冷) and 'Clear' (清) glass of water. If a room is as empty and cold as that water, it is '冷清'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a lonely streetlamp in a dark, empty street at 3 AM. The light is 'clear' but the air is 'cold'. That is 冷清.

Word Web

热闹 (Opposite) 冷 (Cold) 清 (Clear) 安静 (Related) 街道 (Location) 生意 (Business) 寂寞 (Emotion) 孤独 (State)

Défi

Try to find three places in your neighborhood that are '热闹' during the day but '冷清' at night. Describe them using the word.

Origine du mot

The term '冷清' dates back to at least the Song Dynasty in Chinese literature. It combines '冷' (cold) and '清' (clear/pure/quiet).

Sens originel : Originally used to describe the physical sensation of coldness and the visual clarity of water or air, it evolved into an atmospheric descriptor.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using '冷清' to describe someone's home, as it might be taken as a comment on their lack of friends or family.

In English, we might use 'ghost town' or 'dead' to describe a place that is '冷清'.

Li Qingzhao's 'Sheng Sheng Man' (Classical Poetry) Lu Xun's stories often describe the '冷清' of rural China. Eileen Chang's novels use '冷清' to describe the atmosphere of old Shanghai families.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Describing a shop or restaurant with no customers.

生意冷清
没什么人
太冷清了
没生意

Describing a street or park at night.

街道冷清
空无一人
冷清的夜晚
格外冷清

Describing a party that failed to attract people.

气氛冷清
没人来
有点冷清
场面冷清

Describing a home after family members leave.

家里冷清
显得冷清
冷冷清清
感觉冷清

Describing a city during a holiday.

城市冷清
变得冷清
冷清的街道
一片冷清

Amorces de conversation

"你觉得这个商场是不是有点冷清？"

"你家附近晚上很冷清吗？"

"如果你去了一家很冷清的餐厅，你会离开吗？"

"为什么有些原本热闹的地方会变得冷清？"

"在冷清的街道上散步，你会有什么感觉？"

Sujets d'écriture

描述一个你曾经去过的非常冷清的地方。那里是什么样子的？

谈谈为什么一个热闹的城市在节日期间会变得冷清。

你更喜欢热闹的地方还是冷清的地方？为什么？

描述一次你参加过的冷清的活动。你当时的心情如何？

如果你一个人住在一个冷清的大房子里，你会做些什么来让它变得‘热闹’一点？

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Generally, no. '冷清' describes an environment or atmosphere. If you want to say a person is cold, use '冷淡' (lěngdàn) or '高冷' (gāolěng). If you want to say they are lonely, use '寂寞' (jìmò) or '孤独' (gūdú). Using '冷清' for a person sounds unnatural.

Usually, it has a negative or slightly sad connotation. It implies that a place *should* have more life or people. However, in some literary contexts, it might just be a neutral description of a quiet scene. If you want to say a place is 'good-quiet', use '清静' (qīngjìng).

'冷冷清清' is the reduplicated form (AABB). It is more emphatic and often used in writing or poetry to convey a deeper sense of desolation and loneliness. In daily speech, '冷清' is more common, while '冷冷清清' adds a poetic or emotional weight.

Yes, this is a very common idiomatic use. It means that a business is slack or has very few customers. It is the opposite of '生意兴隆' (shēngyì xīnglóng - business is booming).

While you can say '一座冷清的小镇' (a deserted little town), the specific term for ghost town is '鬼城' (guǐchéng). However, you would use '冷清' to describe the atmosphere inside that ghost town.

Not directly. You wouldn't say '天气很冷清'. You would say '天气很冷' (cold) or '天气阴冷' (gloomy and cold). But you could say '冷清的秋天' to describe the *feeling* of the season.

Yes. If a meeting has very few attendees and lacks energy, you can say '会议很冷清'. It implies the meeting was unsuccessful or poorly attended.

'安静' means quiet or peaceful (neutral/positive). '冷清' means deserted or desolate (negative/sad). A library is '安静'; an empty, failed shopping mall is '冷清'.

Yes, it is very common. You will hear it used to describe restaurants, streets, parties, and the general 'vibe' of a place.

You can use it to show degree, like '冷清得不得了' (extremely deserted) or '冷清得让人难受' (so deserted it makes one feel uncomfortable).

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