冷若冰霜 lěng ruò bīng shuāng Cold as ice

Explanation

形容人面无表情，态度冷淡，像冰霜一样冷冰冰的。也可以形容人严厉、严肃，让人感到难以接近。

Describes a person who is expressionless, indifferent and cold as ice and frost. It can also describe a person who is strict, serious and difficult to approach.

Origin Story

在一个寒冷的冬天，一位老先生在街上行走，突然看到一位衣衫褴褛的乞丐在寒风中瑟瑟发抖。老先生心中充满了同情，于是便走上前去，想要给乞丐一些钱财。然而，乞丐却冷若冰霜地拒绝了老先生的好意。老先生感到非常不解，便问道：“为什么不接受我的帮助？你难道不怕冷吗？”乞丐冷冷地回答：“我宁愿忍受寒冷，也不愿接受你的施舍。我宁愿靠自己的努力生活，也不愿依靠别人的怜悯。”老先生听后深受触动，他意识到乞丐的内心充满了自尊，他宁愿忍受贫困，也不愿失去尊严。

zài yī gè hán lěng de dōng tiān, yī wèi lǎo xiān sheng zài jiē shàng xíng zǒu, tú rán kàn dào yī wèi yī shān lán lǚ de qǐ gài zài hán fēng zhōng sè sè dǒu. lǎo xiān sheng xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le tóng qíng, yú shì biàn zǒu shàng qián qù, xiǎng yào gěi qǐ gài yī xiē qián cái. rán ér, qǐ gài què lěng ruò bīng shuāng de jù jué le lǎo xiān sheng de hǎo yì. lǎo xiān sheng gǎn dào fēi cháng bù jiě, biàn wèn dào: “wèi shén me bù jiē shòu wǒ de bāng zhù? nǐ nán dào bù pà lěng ma?” qǐ gài lěng lěng de huí dá: “wǒ nìng yuàn rěn shòu hán lěng, yě bù yuàn jiē shòu nǐ de shī shě. wǒ nìng yuàn kào zì jǐ de nǔ lì shēng huó, yě bù yuàn yī kào bié rén de lián mǐn.” lǎo xiān sheng tīng hòu shēn shòu chù dòng, tā yì shí dào qǐ gài de nèi xīn chōng mǎn le zì zūn, tā nìng yuàn rěn shòu pín kùn, yě bù yuàn shī qù zūn yán.

On a cold winter day, an old man was walking down the street when he suddenly saw a beggar in rags shivering in the cold wind. The old man was filled with sympathy, so he stepped forward to give the beggar some money. However, the beggar coldly refused the old man's kindness. The old man was very puzzled and asked,

Usage

形容人冷漠、不近人情，或形容人严厉、严肃，让人感到难以接近。多用于贬义。

xíng róng rén lěng mò, bù jìn rén qíng, huò xíng róng rén yán lì, yán sù, ràng rén gǎn dào nán yǐ jiē jìn. duō yòng yú biǎn yì.

Describes someone who is cold and unfriendly, or someone who is strict and serious, making them difficult to approach. Often used in a negative sense.

Examples

• 他的脸上冷若冰霜，让人感到害怕。

  tā de liǎn shàng lěng ruò bīng shuāng, ràng rén gǎn dào hǎi pà.

  His face was cold as ice, making people feel scared.

• 老师对犯了错误的学生冷若冰霜，丝毫不留情面。

  lǎo shī duì fàn le cuò wù de xué sheng lěng ruò bīng shuāng, sī hǎo bù liú qíng miàn.

  The teacher was cold as ice to the students who made mistakes, showing no mercy.

• 面对敌人的威胁，他冷若冰霜，毫不退缩。

  miàn duì dí rén de wēi xié, tā lěng ruò bīng shuāng, hǎo bù tuì suō.

  In the face of enemy threats, he was cold as ice, not backing down.

Related Idioms

• 冷酷无情

• 冷眼旁观

Opposite Idioms

• 热情似火

• 和蔼可亲