cing1 laang5清冷
Jyutpingcing1 laang5
Yalechīng láahng
Definition
Chilly, cold, or desolate and deserted.
- chilly; cold; freezing
- deserted; desolate; lonely and quiet
neutraldescriptionsweather
How it's used
Primarily used to describe an atmosphere that is both physically cold and emotionally lonely or empty. It carries a slightly literary or poetic nuance compared to everyday words like 凍 or 荒涼. You will often find it used in written descriptions of scenery or settings to evoke a sense of quiet isolation.
Examples
This street is very deserted at night, there's hardly anyone walking.
The weather is chilly, remember to put on another layer.
Related words
Common phrases
a chilly and desolate atmosphere
chilly moonlight
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person's personality unless you specifically want to imply they are aloof or emotionally distant, as it can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
