How to Write 冷 (lěng) — Meaning “cold”

Imagine cold ice cubes (冫) giving you a stern 'order' (令) to put on a coat. The sound 'lěng' also feels like shivering, which helps you connect the shape to the meaning.

The left radical 冫 must be two separate dots, not connected. The right part 令 starts with a downward stroke, then a dot, then another dot, and a final downward stroke – keep the width narrow so the whole character stays balanced.

冷 means 'cold' and uses 冫 (ice) + 令. 冯 (fèng) is a surname or means 'gallop' and has 冫 + 马 (horse). 冰 (bīng) means 'ice' and uses 冫 + 水 (water). So 冷 is about temperature, 冯 is a name, and 冰 is frozen water.

冷 is very common for describing cold weather, food, or drinks, like 冷水 (cold water). It is also used in idioms, such as 冷静 (calm, literally 'cold calm'), and can describe a person as unfriendly or distant.

Common words containing 冷 include: 冷水 (lěng shuǐ) — cold water; 冷静 (lěng jìng) — calm; cool-headed; 寒冷 (hán lěng) — cold; frigid.