Chinese word

冷敷

Pronunciation

Pinyinlěng fū

Meaning

  • verbapply a cold compress

Example

发烧时可以冷敷额头。fā shāo shí ké yǐ lěng fū é tóu

When you have a fever, you can apply a cold compress to your forehead.

Illustration for 冷敷 (apply a cold compress)

More examples

运动后可以用冰袋对扭伤处冷敷。yùn dòng hòu ké yǐ yòng bīng dài duì niǔ shāng chù lěng fū

After exercising, you can apply a cold compress with an ice pack to the sprained area.

Core concept

Something cold laid on a small area of the body to cool the area and calm local swelling or pain.

Common phrases

  • 给额头冷敷gěi é tóu lěng fū

    apply a cold compress to the forehead

  • 给伤口冷敷gěi shāng kǒu lěng fū

    apply a cold compress to a wound

  • 用冰袋来冷敷yòng bīng dài lái lěng fū

    use an ice pack for a cold compress

Similar words

冰敷bīng fū: Places wrapped ice or a cold pack on an injured area to cool it and calm swelling or pain.
热敷rè fū: Places a warm compress on a body area to warm it, improve blood flow, and ease symptoms.

Definition in Chinese

把冷的敷料或物品敷在身体部位上，以降低局部温度，减轻肿胀和疼痛。bǎ lěng de fū liào huò wù pǐn fū zài shēn tǐ bù wèi shàng yǐ jiàng dī jú bù wēn dù jiǎn qīng zhǒng zhàng hé téng tòng

Word origin

冷 (lěng, "cold") + 敷 (fū, "apply over a surface") gives the image of spreading a cold item across one part of the body, which develops naturally into the word's treatment sense.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can place the affected body part directly after this verb, whereas English normally marks that body part with a preposition; this contrast helps prevent word-for-word sentences.

Other meanings

  • cold compressnoun
  • cold packnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 冷敷贴lěng fū tiēcold compress patchnoun
  • 冷敷包lěng fū bāocold packnoun

Word lists with this word