冷水

• Pinyin: lěng shuǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 冷 = 冫(ice) + 令, cold; 水 = pictograph of flowing water

Meaning

Cold water; unheated water. Also used metaphorically for dampening enthusiasm.

Literal meaning is unheated water. Metaphorically, 泼冷水 (pour cold water) means to dampen someone's enthusiasm or discourage them. In traditional Chinese medicine, drinking cold water is often discouraged. Common phrases: 一盆冷水 (a bucket of cold water, metaphor for discouragement).

Examples

1. 我正兴致勃勃地分享计划，他却泼了我一盆冷水。 I was enthusiastically sharing my plan when he poured a bucket of cold water on me.
2. 夏天我喜欢洗冷水澡，清爽又省电。 In summer I like taking cold showers; it's refreshing and saves electricity.
3. 老人家说不要喝冷水，对肠胃不好，要喝温水。 The elderly say you shouldn't drink cold water because it's bad for the stomach; drink warm water instead.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, discouragement, health

Tone: varied

Do Say

• 别总给人泼冷水。(Don't always pour cold water on people's ideas.)
• 我要一杯冷水，谢谢。(I'd like a glass of cold water, please.)

Don't Say

• 在正式场合说泼冷水 (Use 打击积极性 or 提出不同意见 in formal contexts)

Origin & History

Simple compound of 冷 (cold) + 水 (water). Metaphorical usage of 'pouring cold water' to dampen enthusiasm is shared across cultures.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal