liè
冽
cold; bitterly cold
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
cold; bitingly cold; frigid
literaryA literary word, often used to describe a piercing, severe cold, especially of wind or air. Not typically used in modern spoken Mandarin.
Běi北
fēng风
lǐn凛
liè冽
，
xíng行
rén人
guǒ裹
jǐn紧
le了
dà大
yī衣
。
The north wind was bitterly cold, and pedestrians tightened their coats.
Shān山
gāo高
fēng风
liè冽
，
kōng空
qì气
yì异
cháng常
qīng清
xīn新
。
With the mountains high and the wind biting, the air was exceptionally fresh.
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Qīng清
liè冽
de的
quán泉
shuǐ水
cóng从
shí石
fèng缝
zhōng中
liú流
chū出
。
Clear, cold spring water flowed from the crevice in the rock.