Chinese word

冷藏

Pronunciation

Pinyinlěng cáng

Meaning

  • verbrefrigerate

Example

请把肉冷藏在冰箱里。qǐng bǎ ròu lěng cáng zài bīng xiāng lǐ

Please refrigerate the meat in the fridge.

Illustration for 冷藏 (refrigerate)

More examples

这盒酸奶开封后要冷藏。zhè hé suān nǎi kāi fēng hòu yào lěng cáng

This carton of yogurt must be refrigerated after opening.

Core concept

Something is kept in a cold place so that it lasts longer while remaining unfrozen.

Common phrases

  • 开封后要冷藏kāi fēng hòu yào lěng cáng

    refrigerate after opening

  • 放进冰箱冷藏fàng jìn bīng xiāng lěng cáng

    refrigerate in the fridge

  • 冷藏保存lěng cáng bǎo cún

    keep refrigerated

Similar words

冷冻lěng dòng: Freeze food so it lasts longer and stays in good condition.
保鲜bǎo xiān: Keep food fresh and slow its spoilage.
保存bǎo cún: Store something properly so it can be used later.

Definition in Chinese

把需要保鲜的食品或物品放在比冰点高但较低的温度中保存，使其不易变质，也可指这种保存的动作或状态。bǎ xū yào bǎo xiān de shí pǐn huò wù pǐn fàng zài bǐ bīng diǎn gāo dàn jiào dī de wēn dù zhōng bǎo cún shǐ qí bú yì biàn zhì yě kě zhǐ zhè zhǒng bǎo cún de dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài

Word origin

The compound 冷 (lěng, "cold") + 藏 (cáng, "store") names storage through cold rather than ordinary room-temperature storage.

Usage tips

  • For everyday English speakers, the useful distinction is that this word normally concerns where food is kept for preservation, not merely the brief act of making a drink or dish feel cool.

Other meanings

  • refrigerationnoun
  • chillverb

Opposites

  • 冷冻lěng dòngfreezeverb
  • 室温保存shì wēn bǎo cúnstore at room temperatureverb

Related words

  • 冷藏室lěng cáng shìrefrigerator compartmentnoun
  • 冷藏食品lěng cáng shí pǐnrefrigerated foodsnoun

Word lists with this word