冷淡
lěng dàn HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他对新同事很冷淡。
Tā duì xīn tóngshì hěn lěngdàn.
He treats the new colleague very coldly.
她的态度突然变得冷淡。
Tā de tàidu tūrán biàn de lěngdàn.
Her attitude suddenly became cold.
请不要冷淡地对待朋友。
Qǐng bùyào lěngdàn de duìdài péngyǒu.
Please don't treat friends coldly.
他对人很冷淡。
Tā duì rén hěn lěngdàn.
He treats people coldly.
她的态度很冷淡。
Tā de tàidù hěn lěngdàn.
Her attitude is very indifferent.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 冷 (lěng) means 'cold,' and 淡 (dàn) means 'bland' or 'light.' Think of someone giving you a 'cold and bland' reaction—completely indifferent and unenthusiastic.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. Common in describing interpersonal relationships, attitudes, responses, or atmospheres (e.g., a冷淡的回应 - a cold reply). It often carries a negative connotation of neglect or disinterest.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a predicate (e.g., 他很冷淡) or as an attributive before nouns (e.g., 冷淡的态度). Can be modified by degree adverbs like 非常, 很, 有点.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony and warmth (人情味) in relationships is valued. Describing someone as 冷淡 is a strong criticism, implying they are failing in social expectations of warmth and engagement.

🔄 Similar Words

冷漠 (lěngmò) is very close but emphasizes a more profound, heartless indifference, often implying cruelty. 冷淡 focuses more on surface-level coolness or lack of warmth. 冰冷 (bīnglěng) is more literal for physical coldness or extreme emotional coldness.

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