Usage note
着凉表示因为受凉而生病，通常指感冒。
Zhuó liáng biǎoshì yīnwèi shòu liáng ér shēngbìng, tōngcháng zhǐ gǎnmào.
Catch a cold means to get sick from being cold, usually referring to a cold.
Context note
冬天出门要多穿衣服，不然容易着凉。
Dōngtiān chūmén yào duō chuān yīfu, bùrán róngyì zhuó liáng.
In winter, you should wear more clothes when going out, otherwise you might catch a cold.
5 examples
昨天我没穿外套，结果着凉了。
zuó tiān wǒ méi chuān wài tào， jié guǒ zháo liáng le。
Yesterday I didn't wear a jacket, and as a result I caught a cold.
着凉了要多喝热水。
zháo liáng le yào duō hē rè shuǐ。
If you catch a cold, you should drink more hot water.
小朋友着凉了，妈妈很担心。
xiǎo péng yǒu zháo liáng le， mā ma hěn dān xīn。
The child caught a cold, and Mom was very worried.
下雨天不要淋雨，会着凉的。
xià yǔ tiān bú yào lín yǔ， huì zháo liáng de。
Don't get caught in the rain on rainy days, or you might catch a cold.
他着凉了，所以今天没来上学。
tā zháo liáng le， suǒ yǐ jīn tiān méi lái shàng xué。
He caught a cold, so he didn't come to school today.
5 mini stories
小华在雪地里玩得太久，着凉了。他喝了姜汤，感觉好多了。
xiǎo huá zài xuě dì lǐ wán dé tài jiǔ， zháo liáng le。 tā hē le jiāng tāng， gǎn jué hǎo duō le。
Xiao Hua played in the snow for too long and caught a cold. He drank ginger soup and felt much better.
小红没穿雨衣就出门，结果着凉了。她以后记得带伞了。
xiǎo hóng méi chuān yǔ yī jiù chū mén， jié guǒ zháo liáng le。 tā yǐ hòu jì de dài sǎn le。
Xiao Hong went out without a raincoat and caught a cold. She remembered to bring an umbrella afterwards.
小明睡觉时踢了被子，着凉了。妈妈给他盖好被子。
xiǎo míng shuì jiào shí tī le bèi zi， zháo liáng le。 mā ma gěi tā gài hǎo bèi zi。
Xiao Ming kicked off his blanket while sleeping and caught a cold. Mom covered him up properly.
着凉后要好好休息，多喝水。
zháo liáng hòu yào hǎo hǎo xiū xi， duō hē shuǐ。
After catching a cold, you should rest well and drink plenty of water.
小丽着凉了，老师让她回家休息。
xiǎo lì zháo liáng le， lǎo shī ràng tā huí jiā xiū xi。
Xiao Li caught a cold, and the teacher told her to go home and rest.
Mini dialogue
天冷着凉
A
今天真冷，我好像着凉了。
Jīntiān zhēn lěng, wǒ hǎoxiàng zháoliáng le.
It's really cold today, I think I caught a cold.
B
快穿上外套，别着凉。
Kuài chuān shang wàitào, bié zháoliáng.
Put on a coat quickly, don't catch a cold.
下雨着凉
A
昨天淋雨，我着凉了。
Zuótiān lín yǔ, wǒ zháoliáng le.
I got wet in the rain yesterday and caught a cold.
B
多喝热水，好好休息。
Duō hē rè shuǐ, hǎohǎo xiūxi.
Drink more hot water and rest well.
Related words and contrasts
related
感冒
gǎnmào
catch a cold (illness)
着凉 means to get chilled, which can lead to 感冒 (a cold). They are related but not the same.
similar
受凉
shòu liáng
catch a chill
Both mean to get chilled, but 着凉 is more common in spoken Chinese.
opposite
保暖
bǎonuǎn
keep warm
着凉 means to get chilled, while 保暖 means to keep warm to prevent it.