bing1 fung1冰封
Jyutpingbing1 fung1
Yalebīng fūng
Definition
To freeze over; to be covered in or blocked by ice.
neutralnatureweather
How it's used
Primarily used to describe large bodies of water or landscapes that have become completely encased in ice due to extreme cold. While it appears in the common idiom 冰封三尺，非一日之寒, it is rarely used in casual daily speech to describe household items like food in a freezer. Instead, use 結冰 or 雪藏 for everyday contexts.
Examples
The river was frozen over after the snow fell.
It is always frozen over here in winter.
Related words
Common phrases
three feet of ice
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe putting food in the freezer, as that is simply 放入雪櫃 or 雪藏. Using 冰封 for food sounds overly dramatic and poetic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
