Usage of 冻 (dòng)
The character 冻 primarily means "to freeze" or "to become frozen." It is commonly used to describe water, food, or other liquids turning into ice due to cold temperatures. It can also describe the state of being very cold, often causing shivering.
Common Collocations
- 冻起来 (dòng qǐlái): to freeze over (used for lakes, rivers, or surfaces)
- 冷冻 (lěngdòng): to freeze (usually for food preservation)
- 冻得 (dòng de): used before verbs like 哆嗦 (shiver) to describe being cold
Notes
When using 冻, it often implies a physical change caused by cold. It differs from the verb "结冰" (jié bīng), which also means "to freeze" but is more formal and scientific. 冻 is more common in everyday speech. Avoid confusing 冻 with 冻结 (dòngjié), which is a compound meaning "to freeze solid" or "to freeze up" in technical contexts.
In conversation, 冻 can describe both the process (freezing) and the sensation (feeling cold). For example, 冻得发抖 means "shivering because of cold."