Traditional: 鼕
dōng HSK 3

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

冬天很冷。
Dōngtiān hěn lěng.
Winter is very cold.
我喜欢冬天。
Wǒ xǐhuan dōngtiān.
I like winter.
冬天来了。
Dōngtiān lái le.
Winter has come.
冬天很冷。
Dōngtiān hěn lěng.
Winter is very cold.
我喜欢冬天。
Wǒ xǐhuān dōngtiān.
I like winter.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 冬 as 'winter'—the character resembles icicles hanging from a roof, with the top part (夂) like snow falling and the bottom (冫) as ice radicals, helping visualize the cold season.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, spoken and written, to denote the winter season or related concepts. Common in phrases describing weather (冬天很冷, dōngtiān hěn lěng - winter is very cold), time periods (在冬天, zài dōngtiān - in winter), or seasonal items (冬装, dōngzhuāng - winter clothing). It is straightforward and specific to the season.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a noun in time expressions (e.g., 冬天来了, dōngtiān lái le - winter has come). Can combine with other characters to form compound nouns (e.g., 冬季, dōngjì - winter season). Also appears in fixed phrases like 冬至 (dōngzhì - Winter Solstice), a specific solar term in the Chinese calendar.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 冬 is linked to festivals like the Winter Solstice (冬至), a time for family gatherings and eating tangyuan. It symbolizes rest and reflection in the natural cycle, often associated with themes of endurance and preparation for spring.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 寒 (hán), which means 'cold' and can describe temperature or a chilly feeling, 冬 specifically refers to the season of winter. Compared to 雪 (xuě) meaning 'snow', which is a weather phenomenon common in winter, 冬 is broader and denotes the entire season.

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