Meaning
凄凉 describes a scene, atmosphere, or feeling that is desolate, bleak, and melancholy. It evokes a sense of loneliness, abandonment, or sadness, often used to describe deserted places, harsh conditions, or tragic circumstances. The word carries strong emotional weight and is commonly found in literary and descriptive contexts.
Usage
This word appears frequently in literature, poetry, and descriptive writing to create a somber, melancholic mood. It can describe both physical environments (abandoned buildings, barren landscapes) and emotional states (lonely situations, tragic lives). Native speakers use it more in written than spoken language, though it does appear in everyday speech when describing particularly bleak situations.
Examples
- 01秋风吹过废弃的工厂，显得格外凄凉。, .The autumn wind blowing through the abandoned factory made it seem especially desolate.
- 02他晚年生活十分凄凉，无人照顾。, .His later years were very bleak, with no one to care for him.
Characters
Common collocations
- 凄凉的景象a desolate scene
- 显得凄凉to appear desolate
- 凄凉之感a sense of desolation
- 十分凄凉extremely bleak
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to coldness. 凄 (qī) originally depicted coldness and desolation, while 凉 (liáng) means cool or cold. Together they intensify the sense of bleakness and emotional coldness.