涼快 / 凉快
liángkuài
The English word 'cool' (referring to temperature) is expressed in Chinese as 涼快 / 凉快 (liángkuài). If unsure, use 涼快 / 凉快. Wiktionary also lists 清涼 / 清凉 (qīngliáng).
Meaning: having a slightly low temperature (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 涼快 / 凉快 | liángkuài |
| 清涼 / 清凉 | qīngliáng |
In Chinese, these terms are used to describe a temperature that is slightly low.
Which one should you use?
The two forms provided have different nuances. 涼快 / 凉快 (liángkuài) specifically refers to a cool temperature that is pleasant or refreshing, often used to describe the weather or a breeze. In contrast, 清涼 / 清凉 (qīngliáng) describes a sensation of coolness that is crisp, clear or refreshing, such as a cool drink or a cool breeze.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
liángkuài
What mistakes should you avoid?
Instead, use the informal term 酷 (kù). Also, do not confuse these with 冷 (lěng), which means 'cold' in a way that may be uncomfortable or low in temperature, whereas these terms imply a pleasant coolness.
Did you know?
- The word 涼 (liáng) can also be used as a euphemism to describe something that has 'gone cold', such as a dead body or a failed romantic relationship.
- While 酷 (kù) means 'cool' in a social sense, it was originally a word for 'cruel' or 'harsh'.
- While English uses 'cool' for both temperature and style, the Chinese word for a stylish person, 酷 (kù), is a phonetic loanword from the English 'cool'.
Examples in context
- 你的音乐很棒！ (Nǐ de yīnyuè hěn bàng!)Your music is cool!
- 这个新手机太酷了！ (Zhège xīn shǒujī tài kù le!)This new phone is so cool!
- 你的绘画技巧真的很赞！ (Nǐ de huìhuà jìqiǎo zhēn de hěn zàn!)Your painting skills are really cool!
- 你的新发型真酷！ (Nǐ de xīn fǎxíng zhēn kù!)Your new hairstyle is cool!
- 他踢足球的技术真牛！ (Tā tī zúqiú de jìshù zhēn niú!)His soccer skills are really cool!
- 你穿这件衣服真帅！ (Nǐ chuān zhè jiàn yīfú zhēn shuài!)You look cool in this outfit!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cool” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
