冰
bīng
The English word "ice" is translated into Chinese as 冰 (bīng).
冰 is a noun meaning water in its frozen form. It can also function as a prefix to denote things that are cold, such as in the word for ice cream.
Meaning: water in frozen form (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 冰 refers to ice in general, use 冰块 when you are specifically referring to individual pieces of ice, such as ice cubes in a drink. The form 冰块儿 is a variation that sounds more friendly and informal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The related verb 冰冻 means to freeze.
How do you pronounce it?
bīng
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese slang, the word 冰 can be used as a shorthand for methamphetamine, a dangerous illegal drug.
- In traditional Chinese medicine and culture, 冰 is often associated with the 'Yin' principle, representing extreme cold and stillness.
- The character 冰 began as a simple pictogram 冫 representing ice before the water radical 水 was added to clarify its meaning.
Examples in context
- 水结成冰了。The water turned to ice.The sentence is useful for describing how water turned to 冰.Tatoeba #2241817 by sadhen, translation #270834 by CK
- 我想去滑冰。I want to go ice skating.The sentence is useful for expressing a desire to go ice skating using 冰.Tatoeba #9987043 by GlossaMatik, translation #10011013 by DJ_Saidez
- 我要一瓶冰水。I want a bottle of ice water.The sentence is useful for ordering a bottle of ice water using 冰.Tatoeba #6158478 by xjjAstrus, translation #6159779 by leishenki
- 我想要一杯加冰的咖啡。I would like a cup of coffee with ice.
- 请给我一些冰块。Please give me some ice cubes.
- 64 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting and Wei are preparing drinks in the kitchen.
- 雨婷 Yuting冰在冰箱里吗？Bīng zài bīngxiāng lǐ ma?Is the ice in the fridge?
- 伟 Wei不在，冰用完了。Bù zài, bīng yòng wán le.No, we are out of ice.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我不加冰了。Nà wǒ bù jiā bīng le.Then I won't add ice.
- 伟 Wei好吧，直接喝常温的。Hǎo ba, zhíjiē hē chángwēn de.Okay, just drink it at room temperature.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ice” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 冰, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
