Usage note
零下表示温度低于零度。
líng xià biǎo shì wēn dù dī yú líng dù。
Below zero means the temperature is under zero.
Context note
零下常出现在天气预报和冬天里。
líng xià cháng chū xiàn zài tiān qì yù bào hé dōng tiān lǐ。
Below zero often appears in weather forecasts and winter.
5 examples
今天零下。
jīn tiān líng xià。
It is below zero today.
外面零下很冷。
wài miàn líng xià hěn lěng。
It is very cold outside below zero.
温度到零下了。
wēn dù dào líng xià le。
The temperature dropped below zero.
零下要穿大衣。
líng xià yào chuān dà yī。
Wear a coat when it is below zero.
晚上可能零下。
wǎn shàng kě néng líng xià。
It may be below zero at night.
5 mini stories
天气预报说今天会零下，所以我要穿厚一点。
tiān qì yù bào shuō jīn tiān huì líng xià， suǒ yǐ wǒ yào chuān hòu yì diǎn。
The weather forecast said it would be below zero today, so I will wear thicker clothes.
零下的时候，水也会变得很冷。
líng xià de shí hòu， shuǐ yě huì biàn de hěn lěng。
When it is below zero, water becomes very cold too.
冬天晚上有时会零下。
dōng tiān wǎn shàng yǒu shí huì líng xià。
Winter nights are sometimes below zero.
老师提醒我们，零下天气要注意保暖。
lǎo shī tí xǐng wǒ men， líng xià tiān qì yào zhù yì bǎo nuǎn。
The teacher reminded us to keep warm in below-zero weather.
我第一次看到零下这个词，是在天气预报里。
wǒ dì yī cì kàn dào líng xià zhè ge cí， shì zài tiān qì yù bào lǐ。
The first time I saw the word below zero was in a weather forecast.
Mini dialogue
今天真冷
A
今天气温是零下五度，好冷啊！
Jīntiān qìwēn shì língxià wǔ dù, hǎo lěng a!
Today's temperature is five degrees below zero, so cold!
B
是啊，零下的时候要穿厚外套。
Shì a, língxià de shíhou yào chuān hòu wàitào.
Yes, when it's below zero you need to wear a thick coat.
明天会更冷吗
A
明天还是零下吗？
Míngtiān háishì língxià ma?
Will it still be below zero tomorrow?
B
对，天气预报说零下三度。
Duì, tiānqì yùbào shuō língxià sān dù.
Yes, the weather forecast says three degrees below zero.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
零上
líng shàng
above zero
Used for temperatures above freezing point.
related
结冰
jié bīng
to freeze; freezing
Water turns to ice when the temperature is below zero.