冷冷清清
冷冷清清 (lěng lěng qīng qīng) literally means “cold cold quiet quiet” and expresses “deserted and lifeless atmosphere”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: leng leng qing qing, leng leng qing qing,冷冷清清 meaning, 冷冷清清 in english
Deserted and lifeless atmosphere
Pronunciation: lěng lěng qīng qīng Literal meaning: Cold cold quiet quiet
Origin & Usage
Song Dynasty poets coined this atmospheric phrase combining coldness (冷冷) with quietness (清清) to describe abandoned places. Their verses painted pictures of once-bustling temples and palaces now standing empty. Ming Dynasty writers adopted it to establish lonely settings in their stories. The doubled characters intensify both the thermal and auditory dimensions of absence, creating a more profound sense of emptiness than either quality alone could convey.
When to Use
Situation: The once-bustling shopping mall now stood eerily deserted
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
Learn more →
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
Learn more →
民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
Learn more →
国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
Learn more →
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
Learn more →
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
Learn more →
安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Learn more →
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 冷冷清清 mean in English?
冷冷清清 (lěng lěng qīng qīng) literally translates to “Cold cold quiet quiet” and is used to express “Deserted and lifeless atmosphere”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 冷冷清清 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving deserted and lifeless atmosphere.
What is the pinyin for 冷冷清清?
The pinyin pronunciation for 冷冷清清 is “lěng lěng qīng qīng”.