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泼冷水

潑冷水
pōlěngshuǐ
verb HSK 7-9 #24,617

Meanings

  1. 1 to pour cold water on; to dampen someone's enthusiasm

Characters

泼
pō
to splash; to pour
冷
lěng
cold
水
shuǐ
water

Examples

别老是给别人泼冷水。
Biélǎo shì gěi biérén pōlěngshuǐ.
Don't always dampen other people's enthusiasm.
我正兴奋的时候,他泼了一盆冷水。
Wǒzhèng xīngfèn de shíhòu, tā pō le yī pén lěngshuǐ.
Just when I was excited, he poured cold water on me.

Tips

culture
This figurative expression works the same way as the English 'to pour cold water on something' — discouraging or dampening someone's enthusiasm or plans.

Stroke Order

泼 pō
冷 lěng
水 shuǐ

Related Words

冷水 lěngshuǐ HSK 6 #12,853
cold water / (figurative) discouragement; a damper on enthusiasm
水面 shuǐmiàn HSK 7-9 #7,805
water surface / surface of the water
水管 shuǐguǎn HSK 7-9 #5,663
water pipe / plumbing pipe
流水 liúshuǐ HSK 7-9 #10,916
flowing water / running water / turnover (business)
冷酷 lěngkù HSK 7-9 #6,081
cold-blooded / ruthless / merciless
水源 shuǐyuán HSK 7-9 #11,360
water source / water supply / headwaters of a river
冷漠 lěngmò HSK 7-9 #8,332
cold and indifferent / apathetic
潜水 qiánshuǐ HSK 7-9 #5,013
to dive / to go underwater / scuba diving / to lurk (online)
冰冷 bīnglěng #7,651
ice-cold / freezing cold / cold and unfeeling (figurative)
香水 xiāngshuǐ HSK 7-9 #4,119
perfume
泼冷水 pōlěngshuǐ
Meanings Characters Examples Tips Stroke Order Related Words
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