“严寒” denotes a severe and bitter cold, often associated with harsh winter conditions or extreme environments.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Describes extremely low temperatures, bitter cold.
- Often used for harsh winter weather or climates.
- Conveys a sense of severity and difficulty.
Overview
“严寒” (yánhán) 是一个形容词，用来描述极其寒冷的天气或气候状况。它强调的是温度非常低，达到刺骨、严峻的程度，使人感到难以忍受的寒冷。这个词语通常用于形容冬季的极端低温、高纬度或高海拔地区的恶劣气候，以及任何带来强烈寒冷感受的环境。它不仅仅是“冷”，更是“严酷的冷”，带有一定的严峻和挑战的意味。
“严寒”最常见的用法是作为定语修饰名词，例如“严寒的冬天”、“严寒的气候”、“严寒的季节”。它也可以直接作谓语或补语，如“天气严寒”、“战士们经受着严寒的考验”。此外，它常与动词搭配，如“抵御严寒”、“战胜严寒”、“度过严寒”。在描述环境时，可以说“处于严寒之中”或“严寒地区”。
“严寒”一词在多种语境中出现。在新闻报道中，常用于描述极寒天气预警、灾情或救援情况。在文学作品中，它能营造出苍凉、肃穆或考验人性的氛围，如“在严寒中绽放的梅花”。在地理或科学文献中，则用于描述极地、高山或寒带地区的自然环境。日常生活中，当气温骤降、冷到极致时，人们也会用“严寒”来形容，但相对书面语更为常见。
寒冷 (hánlěng): 这是最普通的“冷”，表示温度低，但没有“严寒”那样极致和严峻的意味。寒冷可以是舒适的凉意，也可以是让人感到不适的冷，但“严寒”则一定是刺骨的、难以承受的冷。酷寒 (kùhán): “酷寒”与“严寒”非常接近，都表示极度寒冷。“酷”有“极端、狠毒”之意，所以“酷寒”强调寒冷的残酷性。两者在很多语境下可以互换使用，但“严寒”可能更侧重于寒冷的程度和带来的严峻局面，而“酷寒”则更强调其痛苦和折磨感。冰冷 (bīnglěng): “冰冷”既可以形容天气，也可以形容物体。当形容天气时，它强调的是像冰一样冷的温度，带有物理上的冰冻感。与“严寒”相比，“冰冷”更侧重于触觉上的感受，而“严寒”更侧重于整体气候的严峻性。极寒 (jíhán): “极寒”字面意思就是“极度的寒冷”，与“严寒”、“酷寒”一样，都表示非常低的温度。这是一个比较直接的描述，常用于科学或新闻报道中。
Examples
今年冬天特别严寒，我都冻得不想出门。
everydayThis winter is particularly bitter cold; I'm so frozen I don't want to go out.
科考队员在严寒中坚守岗位，完成了重要数据采集。
formalThe scientific expedition team held their ground in the severe cold, completing important data collection.
这鬼天气真严寒，手都僵了。
informalThis damn weather is really bitter cold, my hands are stiff.
研究表明，严寒气候对植被生长周期有显著影响。
academicStudies show that severe cold climates have a significant impact on vegetation growth cycles.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
严寒天气
severe cold weather
严寒酷暑
severe cold and intense heat (idiom)
严寒地带
severely cold zone/region
Often Confused With
“寒冷” is a general term for cold, indicating low temperature. “严寒” signifies a much more extreme and severe level of coldness, often bitter or biting, implying a harsh and challenging environment.
“酷寒” is very similar to “严寒”, both meaning extremely cold. “酷寒” emphasizes the harshness and cruelty of the cold, while “严寒” might slightly focus more on the severity of the temperature itself and the resulting difficult conditions. They are often interchangeable in many contexts.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
“严寒” is generally a formal or semi-formal term. It is commonly found in written language, news reports, and scientific descriptions of weather or climate. While understandable in spoken language, it might sound a bit more serious or dramatic than everyday expressions like “很冷” (very cold) or “冷死了” (freezing to death).
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using “严寒” for just “cold” when the temperature isn't extremely low; it implies severe, bitter cold. Another error might be using it to describe objects that are cold, instead of primarily for atmospheric conditions or climate. It's best reserved for intense, challenging weather.
Tips
Emphasize Extreme Coldness
Using '严寒' adds significant emphasis to the coldness, implying it's not just cool or cold, but severely bitter and harsh. Reserve it for truly extreme temperatures.
Avoid Overuse for Mild Cold
Do not use '严寒' for merely cold weather. It implies extreme conditions. Using it inappropriately might sound exaggerated or unnatural to native speakers.
Northern China's Winter
The term '严寒' is often used to describe the long, severe winters in northern China, evoking images of resilience and the challenges faced by people and nature in such climates.
Word Origin
The word “严寒” is composed of two characters: “严” (yán), meaning 'strict, severe, tight', and “寒” (hán), meaning 'cold'. Together, “严寒” literally conveys 'severe cold,' emphasizing the intensity and harshness of the low temperatures, rather than just a mild chill.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, “严寒” often evokes images of resilience and hardship, especially in northern regions where winters are long and severe. It's frequently used in literature and poetry to describe the challenges of winter and the perseverance of people or nature, such as the plum blossom blooming in the bitter cold (梅花香自苦寒来).
Memory Tip
Imagine 'YAN' (严 - severe) turning 'HAN' (寒 - cold) into solid ice. '严寒' is so severely cold, it freezes everything, making it a truly 'strict' and harsh cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions严寒比寒冷程度更深，指极度、刺骨的寒冷，强调其严峻性；而寒冷只是普通的冷，没有那么极端。
严寒通常用来形容天气、气候或季节，特别是冬季的极端低温，也可以引申指环境的恶劣和严峻。
严寒在书面语、新闻报道和文学作品中更常见。口语中人们可能更常用“很冷”、“零下好几度”等具体描述，但理解上没有障碍。
常见的搭配有“严寒的冬天”、“抵御严寒”、“经受严寒”、“严寒天气”等，通常用于描述与极端低温相关的场景。
Test Yourself
北方的冬天常常______，需要穿很厚的衣服才能出门。
句子描述的是需要穿厚衣服才能出门的极端寒冷天气，因此“严寒”是最佳选择。
下列哪个词语最能形容零下三十度的天气？
零下三十度属于极度低温，只有“严寒”能准确表达这种刺骨的寒冷程度。
用“严寒”造句，描述一个冬季场景。
这个句子正确使用了“严寒”来形容冬季，并表达了人们在这种天气下对温暖的渴望，符合词语的语境。
Score: /3
Summary
“严寒” denotes a severe and bitter cold, often associated with harsh winter conditions or extreme environments.
- Describes extremely low temperatures, bitter cold.
- Often used for harsh winter weather or climates.
- Conveys a sense of severity and difficulty.
Emphasize Extreme Coldness
Using '严寒' adds significant emphasis to the coldness, implying it's not just cool or cold, but severely bitter and harsh. Reserve it for truly extreme temperatures.
Avoid Overuse for Mild Cold
Do not use '严寒' for merely cold weather. It implies extreme conditions. Using it inappropriately might sound exaggerated or unnatural to native speakers.
Northern China's Winter
The term '严寒' is often used to describe the long, severe winters in northern China, evoking images of resilience and the challenges faced by people and nature in such climates.
Examples
4 of 4今年冬天特别严寒，我都冻得不想出门。
This winter is particularly bitter cold; I'm so frozen I don't want to go out.
科考队员在严寒中坚守岗位，完成了重要数据采集。
The scientific expedition team held their ground in the severe cold, completing important data collection.
这鬼天气真严寒，手都僵了。
This damn weather is really bitter cold, my hands are stiff.
研究表明，严寒气候对植被生长周期有显著影响。
Studies show that severe cold climates have a significant impact on vegetation growth cycles.
Related Content
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
