冷静

• Pinyin: lěng jìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 冷 = 冫(ice) + 令 (command, phonetic) — cold; 静 = 青 (blue/green) + 争 (contend) — quiet, still

Meaning

Calm; cool-headed; composed. Describes a state of being unemotional and rational, especially under pressure.

Used both as an adjective to describe someone's temperament and as a verb meaning to calm down. Very common in advice-giving and conflict situations. Often used in imperative form: 冷静一下 (calm down a bit). Contrasts with 激动 (excited/agitated) and 冲动 (impulsive).

Examples

1. 遇到问题的时候，我们应该保持冷静。 When we encounter problems, we should stay calm.
2. 他很冷静地分析了这次失败的原因。 He calmly analysed the reasons for this failure.
3. 你先冷静一下，别着急做决定。 Calm down first — don't rush into making a decision.

Usage Guide

Context: advice, conflict resolution, everyday

Tone: rational

Do Say

• 冷静一下再说。(Calm down first, then we'll talk.)
• 她是一个很冷静的人，从来不慌张。(She is a very calm person and never panics.)

Don't Say

• 这杯水很冷静 (冷静 describes people or mindsets, not physical objects — use 凉 or 冷 for temperature)

Origin & History

Composed of 冷 (cold) and 静 (still, quiet). The metaphor of coldness and stillness together conveys the idea of being emotionally cool and mentally composed.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal