冷
lěng · HSK 1
cold
❄️ 冷 = 冫(ice radical) + 令 (lìng, command) — phonetic 令 gives the sound
The two-stroke 冫on the left is the 'ice' radical (a reduced form of 水/氷), marking the meaning: cold. The right side 令 lìng is the phonetic clue, shifted to lěng. Same ice radical appears in 冰 (ice) and 冻 (freeze).
冷 — ice radical 冫 + order 令
A semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 冫 (ice) supplies the meaning of coldness, while 令 (lìng, 'command/order') hints at the pronunciation. Originally referring to the chill of ice, 冷 broadened to mean cold in general, and figuratively cool, indifferent, or detached.
lěng · HSK 1
cold
🧊❄️ 冷 = 冫(ice radical) + 令 (lǐng, phonetic)
The 冫 radical on the left is a reduced form of 冰 (ice) and signals cold-related meaning. The right side 令 supplies the sound, giving lěng. Same ice radical appears in 冰, 凉, 冻.
冷 — ice radical 冫 + order 令
A semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 冫 (ice) supplies the meaning of coldness, while 令 (lìng, 'command/order') hints at the pronunciation. Originally referring to the chill of ice, 冷 broadened to mean cold in general, and figuratively cool, indifferent, or detached.