清寒

qīnghán

adjective

Meanings

1 poor and underprivileged (especially of a scholar's family)
2 (of weather) crisp and clear / chilly

Characters

Examples

他出身清寒，靠奖学金读完了大学。

Tā chūshēn qīnghán, kào jiǎngxuéjīn dú wán le dàxué.

He came from a poor family and finished college on scholarships.

夜空清寒，月色如水。

Yèkōng qīnghán, yuèsè rú shuǐ.

The night sky was crisp and cold, the moonlight like water.

Tips

register

清寒 carries dignity that 贫穷 (pínqióng, 'poor') doesn't — it implies poverty paired with integrity, the classic 'poor scholar' archetype. Often appears in the set phrase 清寒子弟 (qīnghán zǐdì) for students from underprivileged families on scholarship programs.

Stroke Order

清 qīng

寒 hán