寒冬腊月

寒冬臘月

hándōnglàyuè

idiom

Meanings

1 the depths of winter
2 the coldest part of winter (the twelfth lunar month)

Characters

12th lunar month

Examples

寒冬腊月，北方下起了大雪。

Hán dōng là yuè, běifāng xià qǐ le dàxuě.

In the depths of winter, heavy snow fell in the north.

他寒冬腊月还穿着单衣出门。

Tā hán dōng là yuè hái chuān zhe dānyī chūmén.

Even in the dead of winter, he went out wearing only a thin layer.

寒冬腊月里，一家人围炉而坐最温暖。

Hán dōng là yuè lǐ, yī jiā rén wéi lú ér zuò zuì wēnnuǎn.

In the coldest winter days, nothing is warmer than the family gathering around the stove.

Tips

culture

腊月 is the 12th month of the lunar calendar (roughly January–early February), traditionally the coldest. The name comes from 腊祭, an ancient end-of-year sacrifice. This idiom is paired with it for emphasis.

Stroke Order

寒 hán

冬 dōng

腊 là

月 yuè