Usage note
寒冷用来描述天气或环境的冷。
hán lěng lái zhuō mǐnɡ tā tiān qì huò jí huan rónɡ de lěnɡ.
Use 寒冷 to describe cold weather or environment.
Context note
寒冷常用于描述冬天的天气，或者在形容某个地方很冷。
hán lěng chánɡ yònɡ qū huò rónɡ mǒu ɡè dì fānɡ de hěn lěnɡ.
寒冷 is often used to describe winter weather or to say a place is very cold.
5 examples
今天天气很寒冷。
jīn tiān tiān qì hěn hán lěng。
Today's weather is very cold.
他穿了件厚重的外套，因为外面太寒冷。
tā chuān le jiàn hòu zhòng de wài tào， yīn wèi wài miàn tài hán lěng。
He wore a thick coat because it was too cold outside.
这个房间很寒冷，需要开暖气。
zhè ge fáng jiān hěn hán lěng， xū yào kāi nuǎn qì。
This room is very cold; we need to turn on the heater.
寒冷的夜晚让人感到疲倦。
hán lěng de yè wǎn ràng rén gǎn dào pí juàn。
The cold night makes people feel tired.
他们决定去滑雪，因为天气很寒冷。
tā men jué dìng qù huá xuě， yīn wèi tiān qì hěn hán lěng。
They decided to go skiing because the weather was very cold.
5 mini stories
冬天的早晨很寒冷，小明穿了件厚外套。
dōng tiān de zǎo chén hěn hán lěng， xiǎo míng chuān le jiàn hòu wài tào。
In the cold winter morning, Xiao Ming wore a thick coat.
妈妈提醒小华，寒冷的天气要多穿衣服。
mā ma tí xǐng xiǎo huá， hán lěng de tiān qì yào duō chuān yī fu。
Mom reminded Xiao Hua to wear more clothes in the cold weather.
寒冷的冬天，小红喜欢在室内玩。
hán lěng de dōng tiān， xiǎo hóng xǐ huan zài shì nèi wán。
In the cold winter, Xiao Hong likes to play indoors.
他们去山上滑雪，因为那里很寒冷。
tā men qù shān shàng huá xuě， yīn wèi nà lǐ hěn hán lěng。
They went skiing on the mountain because it was very cold there.
小明的房间很寒冷，他决定开暖气。
xiǎo míng de fáng jiān hěn hán lěng， tā jué dìng kāi nuǎn qì。
Xiao Ming's room was very cold; he decided to turn on the heater.
Mini dialogue
天气寒冷
A
今天天气很寒冷。
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hán lěng.
The weather is very cold today.
B
是的，我们穿厚一点吧。
Shì de, wǒmen chuān hòu yì diǎn ba.
Yes, let's dress warmly.
冬天的早晨
A
冬天的早晨真寒冷。
Dōngtiān de zǎochén zhēn hán lěng.
Winter mornings are really cold.
B
喝杯热水就暖和了。
Hē bēi rè shuǐ jiù nuǎnhuo le.
Drink a cup of hot water and you'll feel warm.
Related words and contrasts
similar
冷
lěng
cold
冷 is the basic word for cold; 寒冷 is stronger and more formal, often describing weather.
opposite
温暖
wēn nuǎn
warm
寒冷 means freezing cold; 温暖 means pleasantly warm.
contrast
凉快
liáng kuai
cool; pleasantly cool
寒冷 is very cold; 凉快 is a nice cool feeling, not too cold.