冷水

lěngshuǐ

noun HSK 6 #12,853

Meanings

Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi lěng shuǐ.

Please give me a glass of cold water.

Bié pō lěng shuǐ, ràng tā shìshi ba.

Don't pour cold water on it — let him try.

Tā de huà xiàng lěng shuǐ yīyàng jiāomiè le wǒ de rèqíng.

His words were like cold water, extinguishing my enthusiasm.

culture

泼冷水 (pō lěng shuǐ) — 'to pour cold water' — means to discourage or dampen someone's enthusiasm, same metaphor as in English.

usage

In China, drinking 热水 (hot water) is the cultural default. Asking for 冷水 at a restaurant may get you a surprised look.

冷 lěng

水 shuǐ