Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
严寒(嚴寒)yánhán(yan2han2)
严寒 refers to extremely cold weather, typically associated with severe winter conditions. It is often used to describe bitterly cold temperatures that can be uncomfortable or dangerous, particularly in regions experiencing harsh winters.
Frequency#26151DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, severe winters are often linked to traditional festivals like the Winter Solstice (冬至), which emphasizes family gatherings and seasonal foods to combat the cold. Understanding this connection can enrich your appreciation of winter-related vocabulary.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce, serious '严' (yan) face braving the '寒' (han) chill of winter winds. The character '严' suggests strictness or severity, while '寒' relates to coldness, creating an image of a relentless, icy grip.
Meanings of 严寒
yánhán(yan2han2)
1bitter cold
2severe winter
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 严寒
严寒Simplified
嚴寒Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#26151Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 严寒
Podcast: 严寒
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 严寒
Quick Contrast
严寒 (severe cold) vs 寒冷 (cold) — use 严寒 for extreme, dangerous cold conditions, while 寒冷 describes general coldness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce, serious '严' (yan) face braving the '寒' (han) chill of winter winds. The character '严' suggests strictness or severity, while '寒' relates to coldness, creating an image of a relentless, icy grip.
Usage Notes
Be careful when using 严寒; it is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual conversation. Common collocations include 严寒天气 (bitter cold weather) or 严寒的冬天 (severe winter). Also, ensure you use the correct tones, as mispronouncing this could lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 严寒 connects well with other descriptive adjectives for weather and conditions, such as 暴风 (storm) and 酷热 (scorching heat). Focus on using it in context to describe contrasting weather patterns.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, severe winters are often linked to traditional festivals like the Winter Solstice (冬至), which emphasizes family gatherings and seasonal foods to combat the cold. Understanding this connection can enrich your appreciation of winter-related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 严寒 with simply 寒, which means 'cold' but lacks the severity implied by 严寒. For example, saying '今天天气很寒' (Today's weather is cold) misses the emphasis on extreme cold that 严寒 provides.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 严寒
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 严寒 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 严寒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 严寒
严寒 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____冻红了我们的耳朵.
Severe cold turned our ears pink.
Example Sentences for 严寒 (8)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
严寒冻红了我们的耳朵.
yán hán dòng hóng le wǒ mén de ěr duǒ.
Severe cold turned our ears pink.
2
他在严寒期间滑倒,摔断了腿.
tā zài yán hán qī jiān huá dǎo, , shuāi duàn le.
He slipped and broke his leg during the big freeze.
No cold here in winter, summer without heat, steam moderate rainfall.
7
破窗子使我们置身于零下温度的严寒之中.
pò chuāng zǐ shǐ wǒ mén zhì shēn yú líng xià wēn dù de yán hán zhī zhōng.
The broken windows left us exposed to the sub - zero temperatures.
8
塔玛拉会不畏严寒在夜晚外出。
tǎ mǎ lā huì bù wèi yán hán zài yè wǎn wài chū。
Tamara would sally out on bitterly cold nights.
Cultural Notes for 严寒
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, severe winters are often linked to traditional festivals like the Winter Solstice (冬至), which emphasizes family gatherings and seasonal foods to combat the cold. Understanding this connection can enrich your appreciation of winter-related vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions about 严寒
No, 严寒 specifically refers to severe cold conditions typically experienced in winter.
It is more common in written Chinese, particularly in formal contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.
