Meaning
严寒 describes extremely cold weather or temperatures, particularly the harsh cold of winter. It emphasizes the intensity and severity of the cold, going beyond ordinary cold weather. The word combines 严 (severe, strict) with 寒 (cold) to create a more intense meaning than 寒冷 alone.
Usage
This is a more formal or literary term commonly used in weather reports, news articles, and written Chinese. In spoken contexts, people might use 很冷 or 非常冷 instead. It frequently appears in warnings about extreme weather conditions and in descriptions of harsh winter climates.
Examples
- 01今年冬天的严寒天气持续了两个多月。.This winter's severe cold weather lasted for more than two months.
- 02尽管外面严寒刺骨，工人们仍然坚持工作。, .Despite the bone-chilling cold outside, the workers still persisted in their work.
Characters
Common collocations
- 严寒天气severe cold weather
- 抵御严寒to resist the severe cold
- 严寒的冬季the bitter cold winter
- 严寒地区extremely cold regions
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have ancient origins. 寒 originally depicted a person in a shelter during winter, while 严 suggests strictness or severity. Together they create an intensified expression for extreme cold.