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A2 verb #4,500 most common 8 min read

冻结

dongjie Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 冻结 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 冻结 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to understand the very basic physical meaning of '冻结'. Imagine water turning into ice in the freezer. Although '结冰' (jiébīng) is more common for A1 students to describe ice, '冻结' appears in simple stories about winter or science. Think of it as 'liquid becomes solid'. You might see it in a picture book where a river '冻结了' (froze). At this stage, focus on the relationship between cold weather and things becoming hard or immovable. Don't worry about bank accounts or politics yet. Just remember: Cold + Water = 冻结.

At the A2 level, you start to see '冻结' in everyday digital and financial contexts. This is the level where you might learn how to say 'My bank card is frozen' or 'The computer is frozen'. You should understand that '冻结' means something has stopped working or is locked. It is a very useful word if you are living in China and have issues with your phone apps like WeChat. You should also be able to use the basic sentence structure: [Something] + 冻结了. You are beginning to move beyond just 'ice' and into the idea of 'suspension of service'.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '冻结' in more formal and abstract ways. You will encounter it in news articles about business and government. For example, you might read about a 'hiring freeze' (招聘冻结) or 'freezing prices' (冻结物价). You should also understand the passive voice usage with '被' (bèi), such as '资产被冻结' (assets were frozen). At this level, you are expected to distinguish between '冻结' and other similar words like '凝固' (solidify) or '停止' (stop). You should know that '冻结' implies a formal or physical lock.

At the B2 level, you should be able to discuss the implications of '冻结' in complex scenarios like international diplomacy or legal proceedings. You might use it to describe a 'freeze in relations' (关系冻结) between two countries. You should also be able to use it metaphorically, such as '冻结这一刻' (freeze this moment). Your understanding should include the nuances of why something is frozen—whether it is for safety, punishment, or economic stability. You should be able to write short essays or give presentations using this word in a professional context.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep grasp of the metaphorical and literary uses of '冻结'. You might encounter it in sophisticated literature to describe a character's emotions or a stagnant society. For example, '他的心在那一刻冻结了' (His heart froze at that moment). You should also understand its use in highly technical fields like cryogenics, law, or macroeconomics. You can use '冻结' to discuss subtle shifts in policy or the 'ossification' of cultural norms. Your vocabulary should allow you to explain the difference between a temporary '冻结' and a permanent '僵化'.

At the C2 level, you are a master of '冻结' in all its forms. You can use it in legal drafting, high-level political analysis, or poetic expression. You understand the historical context of 'price freezes' in different economic systems and can argue the merits of 'asset freezing' as a tool of international law. You can detect the subtle difference in tone when a writer chooses '冻结' over '停滞' or '凝结'. You use the word with perfect precision, knowing exactly when it conveys authority, when it conveys natural beauty, and when it conveys a tragic lack of progress.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

冻结 in 30 Seconds

冻结 (dòngjié) means to freeze literally (ice) or figuratively (accounts/assets).
It is a formal verb used in science, law, finance, and technology contexts.
Commonly paired with '资产' (assets), '账户' (accounts), and '招聘' (hiring).
Its opposite is '解冻' (jiědòng), which means to unfreeze or thaw.

The Chinese word 冻结 (dòngjié) is a versatile verb that functions both in the literal physical realm and the abstract world of finance, law, and social dynamics. At its most basic level, it describes the physical process of a liquid turning into a solid due to a drop in temperature, such as water turning into ice. However, in modern Mandarin, you are far more likely to encounter it in contexts involving the suspension of activity or the locking of assets. It implies a sudden and total cessation of movement or progress, creating a state of 'stasis' that cannot be altered until a specific condition is met or an authority intervenes.

Physical State: In a scientific or natural context, 冻结 refers to the solidification of liquids. For example, when the temperature in northern China drops below zero, the pipes in old buildings might 冻结, leading to significant plumbing issues. It suggests a hard, immovable state caused by extreme cold.

因为天气太冷，湖面的水已经完全冻结了。(Because the weather is too cold, the water on the lake surface has completely frozen.)

Financial and Legal Usage: This is perhaps the most common usage in daily life. If a person is suspected of a crime or if there is a dispute over debt, the court or the bank may 冻结 their assets (资产) or bank accounts (账户). Once an account is 冻结, no money can be withdrawn or transferred. This usage is highly formal and carries significant weight.

法院下令冻结了该公司的所有银行账户。(The court ordered the freezing of all the company's bank accounts.)

Diplomatic and Social Context: In international relations, if two countries have a falling out, they might 冻结 their diplomatic relations. This means that official communication stops and progress on treaties is halted. Similarly, a company might 冻结 its hiring process (招聘) during an economic downturn, meaning no new employees will be taken on for the time being.

由于预算削减，学校决定冻结下半年的招聘计划。(Due to budget cuts, the school decided to freeze the hiring plan for the second half of the year.)

这种化学液体在室温下会迅速冻结成固体。(This chemical liquid will quickly freeze into a solid at room temperature.)

为了防止通货膨胀，政府宣布冻结物价。(To prevent inflation, the government announced a price freeze.)

Using 冻结 correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb (taking an object) or an intransitive verb (describing a state change). It is frequently paired with the particle '了' (le) because the action of freezing usually results in a completed, new state. In financial and administrative sentences, it often appears in the passive voice using '被' (bèi), highlighting that the subject is being acted upon by an external authority like a bank or a government agency.

Transitive Usage (Active Voice): When an entity performs the act of freezing something, the structure is: [Subject] + 冻结了 + [Object]. This is common in news reports or official statements. For example, '银行冻结了他的信用卡' (The bank froze his credit card). Here, the focus is on the action taken by the bank.

警方为了调查案件，暂时冻结了他的所有资金往来。(To investigate the case, the police temporarily froze all his financial transactions.)

Intransitive Usage (State Change): When describing a natural process, the structure is: [Subject] + 冻结了. For example, '河水冻结了' (The river water froze). In this case, there is no external agent mentioned; it is simply a description of what happened to the water due to the cold environment.

严冬时节，大地被冰雪覆盖，连泥土都冻结得坚硬如铁。(In the middle of severe winter, the earth is covered with ice and snow, and even the soil is frozen hard as iron.)

Passive Usage (Focus on the Victim/Object): The passive form [Object] + 被 + 冻结了 is very frequent in social media and news. '我的账号被冻结了' (My account was frozen). This emphasizes the state of the account and the inconvenience caused to the owner, rather than the bank's action.

由于违反了服务条款，他的社交媒体账号已被永久冻结。(Due to a violation of the terms of service, his social media account has been permanently frozen.)

在这个寒冷的星球上，大气层中的二氧化碳都会冻结并降落到地面。(On this cold planet, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will freeze and fall to the ground.)

政府决定冻结所有公共项目的支出，直到经济形势好转。(The government decided to freeze all public project spending until the economic situation improves.)

Understanding the context of 冻结 helps you recognize it in the wild. It is not just a textbook word; it is a staple of news broadcasts, legal dramas, and everyday digital frustrations. Whether you are watching a CCTV news report about international sanctions or reading a notification on your phone about a security lockout, 冻结 is the keyword that signals a 'stop'.

The News and Media: In China, news reports frequently use 冻结 when discussing anti-corruption campaigns or international conflicts. You might hear phrases like '冻结海外资产' (freezing overseas assets). It conveys a sense of legal authority and decisive action. In economic news, it refers to '冻结房价' (freezing housing prices) or '冻结汇率' (freezing exchange rates) to maintain stability.

新闻报道称，多国联合行动冻结了恐怖组织的非法资金。(News reports say a joint multinational operation frozen the illegal funds of terrorist organizations.)

Online Security and Apps: For the average person in China, 冻结 is most commonly seen in the context of WeChat (微信) or Alipay (支付宝). If the system detects suspicious login activity, it will automatically 冻结 the account to protect the user. You will see a popup saying '您的账号已被冻结' (Your account has been frozen). To 'unfreeze' it, you usually need to perform facial recognition or provide identity verification.

如果你的微信支付被冻结了，你需要联系客服进行申诉。(If your WeChat Pay is frozen, you need to contact customer service to appeal.)

Workplace and HR: During a 'hiring freeze' (招聘冻结), employees often discuss the lack of new talent coming in. You might hear a manager say, '公司现在处于人员冻结状态' (The company is currently in a state of personnel freezing). This is a professional way to say they aren't hiring anyone new.

在科幻电影中，宇航员通常在长途旅行中会被冻结在休眠舱里。(In science fiction movies, astronauts are usually frozen in sleep pods during long journeys.)

由于双方无法达成一致，谈判被迫冻结。(Since the two sides could not reach an agreement, the negotiations were forced to freeze.)

While 冻结 seems straightforward, English speakers often make mistakes by using it where other 'cold' words are more appropriate. Mandarin has several words for 'freezing' or 'cold', and using the wrong one can make your sentence sound unnatural or even change its meaning entirely. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid.

Mistake 1: Using 冻结 for 'Feeling Cold': In English, you might say 'I'm freezing!' when you feel very cold. In Chinese, you should NEVER say '我冻结了'. This would mean you have literally turned into a block of ice or your biological processes have been suspended by a court order. Instead, use '我快冻死了' (I'm freezing to death) or simply '我很冷' (I'm very cold).

错误：外面太冷了，我快冻结了。(Wrong: It's too cold outside, I'm almost frozen.)
正确：外面太冷了，我快冻僵了。(Correct: It's too cold outside, I'm almost frozen stiff.)

Mistake 2: Confusing 冻结 with 结冰: While they both involve ice, 结冰 (jiébīng) specifically means 'to form ice'. Use 结冰 for natural occurrences like a puddle or a lake. Use 冻结 for more technical, scientific, or metaphorical contexts. For example, '路面结冰了' (The road is icy) is more common than '路面冻结了'.

错误：冬天，河里冻结了。(Wrong: In winter, the river froze - grammatically awkward).
正确：冬天，河水结冰了。(Correct: In winter, the river water turned to ice.)

Mistake 3: Overusing it for 'Stop': Don't use 冻结 to mean 'stop' in a general sense. You can't '冻结' your car at a red light or '冻结' your talking. For those, use 停 (tíng) or 停止 (tíngzhǐ). 冻结 is specifically for stopping a process that was supposed to continue, or making something immovable.

由于这个软件有漏洞，系统自动冻结了它的运行权限。(Because this software has a vulnerability, the system automatically froze its running permissions.)

在法律上，冻结和没收是两个不同的概念。(In law, freezing and confiscation are two different concepts.)

Mandarin has several words that overlap with 冻结. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about physical chemistry, human movement, or abstract stagnation. Here is a comparison to help you distinguish them.

冻结 (dòngjié) vs. 凝固 (nínggù): Both mean to solidify, but 冻结 usually involves cold/ice, whereas 凝固 (nínggù) is used for any liquid turning solid (like blood clotting or cement drying). You would say '血液凝固' (blood congeals), but you would say '资产冻结' (assets frozen).

冻结 (dòngjié) vs. 停滞 (tíngzhì): 停滞 means 'stagnation' or 'to come to a standstill'. It is used for economic growth or personal progress. 冻结 is an active, often forced stop, while 停滞 is more of a passive lack of movement. '经济停滞' (economic stagnation) means it's not growing; '经济冻结' (economic freeze) would mean a total forced stop of activity.

虽然项目陷入了停滞状态，但并没有完全被冻结。(Although the project has fallen into a state of stagnation, it has not been completely frozen.)

冻结 (dòngjié) vs. 僵化 (jiānghuà): 僵化 means 'to become rigid' or 'ossified'. It is usually used for ideas, systems, or muscles. A '僵化' system is one that is too old and inflexible to change. 冻结 is about stopping movement entirely, whereas 僵化 is about losing flexibility.

水泥在水分蒸发后会逐渐凝固。(Cement will gradually solidify after the water evaporates.)

这种僵化的管理模式已经不再适应现代市场的需求了。(This rigid management model is no longer adapted to the needs of the modern market.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 结 (jié) is also used in '结婚' (jiéhūn - to get married), implying a permanent 'tying' of two people, similar to how 冻结 'ties up' assets.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dʊŋ˥˩ tɕjɛ˧˩/

US /dʊŋ˥˩ tɕjɛ˧˩/

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'dòng'.

Rhymes With

dòng rhymes with: 痛 (tòng), 送 (sòng), 梦 (mèng) jié rhymes with: 别 (bié), 节 (jié), 铁 (tiě) Common rhyme patterns in poetry for 'jié' often involve themes of separation or seasons.

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'jié' as 'jiě' (3rd tone), which changes the meaning to 'unfreeze'.
Failing to distinguish the 'd' and 't' sounds in Mandarin.
Using a flat tone for both syllables.
Mixing up 'jié' with 'jiè' (boundary).
Pronouncing 'dòng' like the English word 'tongue'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively simple and common in news and daily life.

Writing 3/5

The character '结' is common, but '冻' requires remembering the ice radical.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but tones must be precise.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognizable in financial and weather contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

冷 (Cold) 冰 (Ice) 水 (Water) 银行 (Bank) 停止 (Stop)

Learn Next

解冻 (Unfreeze) 资产 (Assets) 账户 (Account) 法律 (Law) 暂停 (Suspend)

Advanced

凝固 (Solidify) 停滞 (Stagnate) 僵化 (Ossify) 拟制 (Legal fiction) 保全 (Preservation of assets)

Grammar to Know

Passive voice with '被'

他的账户被银行冻结了。

Resultative complements with '成'

水冻结成了冰。

Duration of state

这笔钱已经被冻结了三天。

Cause and effect with '由于'

由于欠费，他的号码被冻结了。

Using '了' for state change

湖水终于冻结了。

Examples by Level

水在零度以下会冻结。

Water will freeze below zero degrees.

Subject + 冻结 (Simple statement of fact)

湖水冻结了，我们可以去滑冰。

The lake water has frozen, we can go skating.

Use of '了' to indicate a completed state change.

冬天，路上的水都会冻结。

In winter, the water on the road will all freeze.

General habit or natural law.

这瓶水在冰箱里冻结了。

This bottle of water froze in the refrigerator.

Locative phrase '在冰箱里' + 冻结.

小鱼被冻结在冰块里了。

The little fish was frozen inside the ice cube.

Passive voice '被' indicating the fish is trapped.

不要让水管冻结。

Don't let the water pipes freeze.

Imperative '不要让' + Object + 冻结.

外面的世界都冻结了。

The world outside is all frozen.

Metaphorical use of 'frozen' to describe a scene.

如果太冷，血液也会冻结吗？

If it's too cold, will blood freeze too?

Question form with '吗'.

我的银行卡被冻结了。

My bank card has been frozen.

Common passive structure for bank issues.

你的账号为什么被冻结了？

Why was your account frozen?

Question word '为什么' + Passive voice.

由于输入密码错误多次，账号冻结了。

The account is frozen due to multiple incorrect password attempts.

Cause '由于...' + Result '冻结了'.

电脑屏幕冻结了，我不能动鼠标。

The computer screen is frozen, I can't move the mouse.

Describing a software crash.

请帮我解冻被冻结的账户。

Please help me unfreeze the frozen account.

Using '解冻' (unfreeze) as the opposite of '冻结'.

这个软件冻结了我的手机。

This software froze my phone.

Active voice: Subject + 冻结了 + Object.

所有的资金往来都冻结了。

All financial transactions have been frozen.

Describing a total stop in activity.

公司冻结了今年的奖金。

The company froze this year's bonuses.

Financial suspension of payments.

政府宣布冻结物价以控制通胀。

The government announced a price freeze to control inflation.

Formal administrative use.

在这种极低温度下，空气中的水分会立刻冻结。

At such extremely low temperatures, moisture in the air will freeze immediately.

Scientific description.

由于经济危机，很多公司开始冻结招聘。

Due to the economic crisis, many companies have started to freeze hiring.

Business term: 招聘冻结 (hiring freeze).

法院冻结了犯罪嫌疑人的海外资产。

The court froze the suspect's overseas assets.

Legal context: 冻结资产 (freeze assets).

谈判在关键时刻被冻结了。

Negotiations were frozen at a critical moment.

Abstract usage for processes.

这种化学反应会让液体迅速冻结成固体。

This chemical reaction will cause the liquid to quickly freeze into a solid.

Resultative complement '成' (into).

为了安全，银行暂时冻结了这笔大额转账。

For security, the bank temporarily froze this large transfer.

Purpose clause '为了...' + Action.

他在寒风中站了很久，感觉全身都冻结了。

He stood in the cold wind for a long time and felt like his whole body was frozen.

Metaphorical feeling of extreme cold.

两国的外交关系由于领土争端而陷入冻结。

The diplomatic relations between the two countries have fallen into a freeze due to territorial disputes.

Noun phrase '陷入冻结' (fall into a freeze).

该协议冻结了双方的核武器开发计划。

The agreement froze the nuclear weapons development plans of both sides.

Political/Treaty context.

在这一刻，时间仿佛冻结了。

At this moment, time seemed to freeze.

Poetic/Literary usage.

公司董事会决定冻结所有非必要的开支。

The company's board of directors decided to freeze all non-essential expenditures.

Formal business decision.

这种新型制冷剂能让物体在秒级时间内冻结。

This new refrigerant can freeze objects within seconds.

Technical/Scientific context.

由于缺乏资金，这个建设项目已经被冻结了两年。

Due to a lack of funds, this construction project has been frozen for two years.

Duration '两年' after the action.

他的笑容在那一瞬间冻结在了脸上。

His smile froze on his face at that moment.

Describing a sudden change in expression.

法律规定，未经许可不得擅自冻结他人账户。

The law stipulates that one may not freeze another's account without permission.

Formal legal prohibition.

尽管局势紧张，但双方仍努力避免关系彻底冻结。

Despite the tension, both sides are still working hard to avoid a complete freeze in relations.

Nuanced diplomatic description.

这种僵化的体制冻结了社会的流动性。

This rigid system has frozen social mobility.

Sociological metaphor.

在极地环境下，生命的迹象似乎都被冻结了。

In the polar environment, all signs of life seem to be frozen.

Descriptive literary style.

该项政策旨在冻结现有的利益格局，防止进一步恶化。

This policy aims to freeze the existing interest structure to prevent further deterioration.

Political science terminology.

他的思想似乎冻结在了上个世纪，无法接受新事物。

His thinking seems to be frozen in the last century, unable to accept new things.

Metaphor for intellectual stagnation.

法官驳回了冻结该笔争议款项的申请。

The judge dismissed the application to freeze the disputed funds.

High-level legal jargon.

这些古老的生物样本被冻结在永冻土层中数万年。

These ancient biological samples were frozen in the permafrost for tens of thousands of years.

Scientific/Archaeological context.

通货紧缩导致了消费市场的冻结。

Deflation has led to a freeze in the consumer market.

Economic cause and effect.

在宇宙的热寂假说中，所有的能量交换最终都将冻结。

In the heat death hypothesis of the universe, all energy exchange will eventually freeze.

Cosmological/Philosophical context.

这种法律拟制的效果是冻结了诉讼时效的计算。

The effect of this legal fiction is to freeze the calculation of the statute of limitations.

Highly technical legal theory.

文学作品中常以冻结的意象来隐喻权力的绝对静止。

Literary works often use frozen imagery as a metaphor for the absolute stillness of power.

Literary criticism.

该项国际公约要求各国无限期冻结化学武器的生产基地。

The international convention requires all countries to indefinitely freeze chemical weapons production sites.

International treaty language.

神经科学研究表明，极度恐惧会导致大脑功能的暂时冻结。

Neuroscience research shows that extreme fear can lead to a temporary freeze of brain functions.

Advanced scientific discourse.

这种艺术风格试图冻结动态瞬间中的纯粹美感。

This artistic style attempts to freeze the pure beauty within a dynamic moment.

Aesthetic philosophy.

资产冻结令的范围应当与债务人的违约程度相称。

The scope of an asset freeze order should be proportionate to the degree of the debtor's default.

Precision in legal argumentation.

在资本流动的盛宴中，任何政策的微调都可能导致市场的瞬间冻结。

In the feast of capital flow, any minor policy adjustment could lead to an instantaneous market freeze.

Sophisticated financial metaphor.

Common Collocations

冻结资产

冻结账户

冻结招聘

冻结物价

冻结关系

冻结期

冻结令

瞬间冻结

冻结资金

冻结协议

Common Phrases

账号冻结

— The state of a digital account being locked. It often happens due to security issues.

我的微信号因为异常登录被账号冻结了。

冻结工资

— To stop increasing or paying wages for a period of time. Usually happens during economic hardship.

公司宣布在未来一年内冻结工资增长。

全面冻结

— A total and complete freeze of all activities or assets. It implies no exceptions.

政府下令全面冻结与该国的贸易往来。

暂时冻结

— A temporary suspension. It implies that it will be unfrozen later.

这只是暂时冻结，调查结束后就会恢复。

永久冻结

— A permanent lock or cessation. There is no plan to restore it.

因为严重违规，他的游戏账号被永久冻结了。

冻结状态

— The state of being frozen. Used to describe the condition of an object or system.

目前该项目仍处于冻结状态。

申请冻结

— To apply for a freeze order. Usually done by a lawyer or creditor.

债权人向法院申请冻结债务人的房产。

解除冻结

— To unfreeze or lift a suspension. This is the formal way to say 'unfreeze'.

银行已经核实了我的身份并解除了冻结。

冻结汇率

— To fix an exchange rate so it does not fluctuate. Used in macroeconomics.

一些国家会选择冻结汇率来稳定外贸。

冻结深度

— The depth to which soil freezes in winter. A technical term in construction.

在北方建筑中，地基必须超过冻结深度。

Often Confused With

冻结 vs 结冰

结冰 is for natural ice formation; 冻结 is more technical or metaphorical.

冻结 vs 冷冻

冷冻 is used for storing food in a freezer; 冻结 is for the act of becoming solid or stopping a process.

冻结 vs 凝固

凝固 is for any liquid turning solid (like blood or wax); 冻结 is specifically related to cold or suspension.

Idioms & Expressions

"冰封雪盖"

— Literally 'sealed by ice and covered by snow'. Used to describe a harsh winter landscape.

冬天的长白山，到处是冰封雪盖的景象。

Literary

"如履薄冰"

— To walk on thin ice. Describes being extremely cautious in a dangerous situation.

在处理这件敏感的事情时，他感到如履薄冰。

Formal

"滴水成冰"

— Water turns to ice as it drops. Describes extremely cold weather.

北方的冬天，真是滴水成冰啊！

Informal

"冰冻三尺，非一日之寒"

— Ice three feet thick is not formed in a single day. Problems don't happen overnight.

他们之间的矛盾是长期积累的，冰冻三尺非一日之寒。

Common Wisdom

"冷若冰霜"

— As cold as frost. Used to describe a person's cold and unfriendly manner.

她待人冷若冰霜，很难接近。

Descriptive

"瓦解冰消"

— To disintegrate like tiles breaking and ice melting. Describes the total collapse of something.

随着真相大白，所有的谣言都瓦解冰消了。

Literary

"冰消雪融"

— Ice disappears and snow melts. Describes the arrival of spring or the end of a conflict.

春天来了，大地冰消雪融，万物复苏。

Literary

"心如死灰"

— Heart like dead ashes. While not using 'freeze', it describes a similar state of emotional stasis.

在经历了这么多打击后，他已经心如死灰。

Literary

"固若金汤"

— Solid as a metal wall and a boiling moat. Describes a very strong defense (metaphorically frozen and immovable).

这座城市的防御固若金汤。

Formal

"僵持不下"

— To be at a deadlock. Describes a situation where neither side will budge.

双方在价格问题上僵持不下，谈判陷入冻结。

Formal

Easily Confused

冻结 vs 冰冻

Both relate to ice.

冰冻 is often used as an adjective (frozen food) or to describe a general state of deep freeze. 冻结 is a specific action of stopping or solidifying.

冰冻食品 (frozen food) vs 冻结资产 (freeze assets).

冻结 vs 僵化

Both imply lack of movement.

僵化 is about losing flexibility (rigid thinking). 冻结 is about a total stop of movement or access.

思想僵化 (rigid thinking) vs 账户冻结 (account frozen).

冻结 vs 停止

Both mean stop.

停止 is a general stop. 冻结 implies a state of being 'locked' in place, often by an external force.

停止说话 (stop talking) vs 冻结计划 (freeze a plan).

冻结 vs 凝结

Both involve liquid changes.

凝结 is often used for condensation (gas to liquid). 冻结 is liquid to solid.

露水凝结 (dew condenses) vs 湖水冻结 (lake freezes).

冻结 vs 封存

Both mean something cannot be used.

封存 means to seal and put away. 冻结 means to lock in place or stop the flow.

封存档案 (seal archives) vs 冻结资金 (freeze funds).

Sentence Patterns

[Object] + 被冻结了

我的卡被冻结了。

[Subject] + 宣布 + 冻结 + [Object]

公司宣布冻结招聘。

由于 [Reason], [Object] 被冻结了

由于安全原因，账号被冻结了。

[Subject] + 陷入 + 冻结状态

谈判陷入冻结状态。

[Subject] + 暂时 + 冻结 + [Object]

银行暂时冻结了资金。

冻结 + [Abstract Concept]

冻结社会流动性。

申请 + 冻结 + [Legal Object]

申请冻结争议财产。

[Metaphor] + 冻结了 + [Metaphor]

权力的冰块冻结了希望的河流。

Word Family

Nouns

冻结令 (dòngjiélìng) - Freeze order

冻结期 (dòngjiéqī) - Freeze period

冻土 (dòngtǔ) - Frozen soil

Verbs

解冻 (jiědòng) - To unfreeze

冷冻 (lěngdòng) - To freeze (food/storage)

冰冻 (bīngdòng) - To freeze up

Adjectives

冻结的 (dòngjié de) - Frozen

冰冷的 (bīnglěng de) - Ice-cold

冰 (bīng) - Ice

寒冷 (hánlěng) - Cold

凝固 (nínggù) - Solidify

停滞 (tíngzhì) - Stagnate

僵硬 (jiāngyìng) - Stiff

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in news, finance, and winter weather reports.

Common Mistakes

Using 冻结 for feeling cold. → 我快冻僵了 / 我冷死了。
冻结 refers to objects or processes becoming solid, not the human sensation of cold.
Saying '河水冻结' instead of '河水结冰了'. → 河水结冰了。
While technically correct, '结冰' is the natural way to describe ice forming on water in daily life.
Using 冻结 for 'stop' in general. → 停止 / 停下。
You can't '冻结' your walking or your talking. It must be a formal process or a liquid.
Confusing 冻结 and 冷冻. → 冷冻食品 (Frozen food).
冷冻 is for preserving things via cold; 冻结 is the act of solidifying or suspending.
Wrong tone on 'jié'. → dòng jié (4th then 2nd).
If you say 'dòng jiě', it sounds like you are saying 'freeze' and then 'unfreeze' in a confusing way.

Tips

Use for Accounts

Whenever you talk about a bank account or social media account being locked, '被冻结了' is the most natural phrase.

Pair with '了'

Since freezing is usually a completed change of state, '冻结' is almost always followed by '了'.

Distinguish from 结冰

Use '结冰' for nature and '冻结' for systems and formal science.

Tone Accuracy

Ensure the 4th tone on 'dòng' is distinct from the 2nd tone on 'jié' to avoid confusion with '解冻' (unfreeze).

Anti-Fraud Context

In China, '冻结' is often associated with the 'Broken Card' campaign against financial crime.

Business Reports

In business, use '冻结' to describe stopping budgets or hiring professionally.

State Transition

Use '冻结' in physics and chemistry to describe phase changes from liquid to solid.

Frozen Metaphors

Use '冻结' to describe relationships that have stopped progressing (关系冻结).

Asset Preservation

In legal contexts, '冻结' is the specific term for preventing the disposal of property.

Software Freezes

If an app stops responding, '冻结' is perfectly understood by tech support.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine an ice cube (冻) that has been tied up with a silk string (结) so it cannot move. That is 冻结.

Visual Association

Visualize a bank building covered in thick, blue ice, with its doors locked tight.

Word Web

Ice Bank Account Assets Hiring Computer Screen Winter Law Security

Challenge

Try to use 冻结 in three different ways today: once about the weather, once about your computer, and once about money.

Word Origin

The word is composed of two characters: 冻 (dòng) and 结 (jié). 冻 contains the radical '冫' (ice) on the left, indicating its relation to cold. 结 contains the radical '纟' (silk) on the left, originally meaning to tie or weave into a knot.

Original meaning: The original combined meaning was the formation of ice or the 'tying up' of water into a solid block.

Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic.

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'frozen accounts' with business partners in China, as it can imply legal trouble or suspicion of fraud.

English speakers use 'freeze' in almost identical ways (freezing ice, freezing prices, freezing accounts), making this word relatively easy to translate conceptually.

The movie 'Frozen' is translated as '冰雪奇缘' in China, but the concept of freezing magic is often described using 冻结. Economic history books often refer to the 'Price Freeze' (物价冻结) of the late 1980s in China. Legal news frequently mentions the freezing of assets of high-profile corrupt officials.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Banking and Finance

我的账户被冻结了
冻结资金
申请解除冻结
冻结期多久

Winter Weather

湖面冻结了
水管冻结
滴水成冰
冻结的土地

Technology

屏幕冻结
软件冻结
系统冻结
账号被冻结

Business

招聘冻结
薪资冻结
项目冻结
预算冻结

Law

冻结令
冻结财产
法院冻结
保全冻结

Conversation Starters

"你有没有遇到过银行卡被冻结的情况？"

"冬天的北方，河流真的会完全冻结吗？"

"如果你的社交媒体账号被冻结了，你会怎么办？"

"你认为政府应该在危机时刻冻结物价吗？"

"为什么有些公司的招聘计划突然被冻结了？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你的电脑或手机屏幕突然冻结的经历，当时你是什么心情？

写一写你对‘时间冻结’这个超能力的看法。如果你能冻结时间，你会做什么？

讨论一下冻结资产作为一种法律手段的利与弊。

描述一个被冰雪冻结的冬日早晨。

如果你是一家公司的CEO，在什么情况下你会选择冻结员工的工资？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should not say '我冻结了'. Use '我快冻死了' (I'm freezing to death) or '我冻僵了' (I'm frozen stiff). '冻结' is for objects or processes, not personal feelings of cold.

结冰 is used for the natural formation of ice, like on a road or lake. 冻结 is more formal and used for technical, financial, or legal contexts, like freezing a bank account or a computer process.

Usually, we use '冷冻' (lěngdòng) for frozen food, like '冷冻食品'. '冻结' would sound too technical for a grocery store context.

The opposite of 冻结 is '解冻' (jiědòng). You can use it for both thawing food and unfreezing a bank account.

It could be due to suspicious login activity, reports from other users, or a violation of terms. You usually need to '解冻' it through identity verification.

Yes, '屏幕冻结' (screen freeze) is a common way to describe a computer that has stopped responding, although '死机' (sǐjī) is the most common term for a total crash.

Yes, it is quite formal. It is the standard term in legal, financial, and news contexts.

Yes, in a poetic or literary sense, you can say '冻结这一刻' (freeze this moment).

It means a 'hiring freeze,' where a company stops hiring new employees temporarily, often to save money.

No. In financial and legal contexts, it has nothing to do with temperature; it just means the suspension of movement or access.