冷静
lěng jìng
In Chinese, "chill" is translated as 冷静 (lěng jìng).
冷静 is used to describe a person who is calm, cool or composed. While it can describe a temperament, it specifically carries a connotation of being rational and composed under pressure. If you wish to tell someone to "chill out" or "calm down" during a moment of tension, you can say 冷静一点 (chill out a bit).
Meaning: calm, relaxed, easygoing (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 冷静 is composed of 冷, meaning cold or cool and 静, meaning quiet or still.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific nuance of "chill" you want to convey. Use 冷静 when referring to being rational and composed. If you mean "relaxed" or "easy-going" in a general sense, 轻松 is used. If you are describing a "chill" lifestyle or a relaxed pace of life, 悠闲 is a more natural choice than 冷静.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the active process of "chilling out" or "calming down" after someone has become agitated, use the verb-complement structure 冷静下来.
How do you pronounce it?
lěng jìng
Did you know?
- If you want to say someone is 'chill' in a trendy, slang-heavy way, you might use 佛系 (Buddha-like), which describes a person who is indifferent to worldly troubles.
- While 冷静 translates to 'chill' or 'calm', in Chinese law and marriage customs, a 冷静期 is a mandatory 'cooling-off period' that couples must observe before a divorce is finalized.
- In many Chinese contexts, telling someone to be 冷静 can actually backfire by making them feel patronized or dismissed, rather than helping them relax.
Examples in context
- 他在压力下依然保持冷静。He remains chill under pressure.
- 今天的课很轻松，我们可以放松一下。Today's class is very chill, we can relax a bit.
- 请冷静一点。Qǐng lěngjìng yìdiǎn.Please calm down a bit.
- 面对困难，你要保持冷静。Miànduì kùnnán, nǐ yào bǎochí lěngjìng.You need to stay calm when facing difficulties.
Example conversation
Hao Ran and Zi Han are discussing a stressful work situation.
- 浩然 Haoran老板刚才很生气。Lǎobǎn gāngcái hěn shēngqì.The boss was very angry just now.
- 梓涵 Zihan不要慌，我们要冷静。Búyào huāng, wǒmen yào lěngjìng.Don't panic, we need to be calm.
- 浩然 Haoran你说得对，我太紧张了。Nǐ shuō de duì, wǒ tài jǐnzhāng le.You are right, I was too nervous.
- 梓涵 Zihan慢慢来，别担心。Mànmàn lái, bié dānxīn.Take it slow, don't worry.
