凄凉

淒涼

qīliáng

adjective HSK 7-9 #17,735

Meanings

1 bleak; desolate
2 miserable; wretched

Characters

sorrowful; chilly

Both characters carry a sense of cold sadness - together they evoke a bone-deep desolation.

Examples

HSK 3

秋天的景色有些凄凉。

Qiūtiān de jǐngsè yǒuxiē qīliáng.

The autumn scenery is somewhat bleak.

HSK 7-9

老人的晚年过得很凄凉。

Lǎorén de wǎnnián guò de hěn qīliáng.

The old man's final years were miserable.

Tips

culture

凄凉 is a classic mood word in Chinese poetry. Li Qingzhao's famous ci poem uses 凄凄惨惨戚戚 - a string of desolate-sounding words that's considered one of the most melancholic lines in Chinese literature.

Stroke Order

凄 qī

凉 liáng