What does 冬 mean in Chinese?

冬 (dōng) means "winter" in Chinese.

How do you pronounce 冬?

冬 is pronounced "dōng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 冬?

冬 was an HSK 3 word on the old HSK 2.0 lists but is not on the new exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 冬?

Common words with 冬 include 冬天 (winter), 冬季 (winter), 丁冬 ((onom.) ding dong), 佳冬 (Chiatung township in Pingtung County 屏東縣|屏东县[Ping2 dong1 Xian4], Taiwan), 冬令 (winter).

How do you write 冬?

冬 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 夂. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

冬 (dōng), winter

冬

dōng

winter

Dropped from new HSK5 strokes

Character Breakdown

冬 = 夂 + 丶 + 丶

Walking ends in ice dots — winter

Radical: 夂 (no. 34)Strokes: 5

View stroke order →

Definitions

winter

Example Sentences

冬天很冷。

Dōngtiān hěn lěng

Winter is very cold

Words Containing 冬

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
冬天	dōng tiān	winter	HSK 3
冬季	dōng jì	winter
丁冬	dīng dōng	(onom.) ding dong
佳冬	Jiā dōng	Chiatung township in Pingtung County 屏東縣\|屏东县[Ping2 dong1 Xian4], Taiwan
冬令	dōng lìng

→

交九(jiāo jiǔ)· the coldest period of the year

→

冬令(dōng lìng)· winter

→

冬夏(dōng xià)· winter and summer

→

Grammar Notes

As Soon As (一...就)HSK 3

Subject + 一 + Verb₁，(Subject) + 就 + Verb₂

HSK levels

New HSK exam: Not tested
HSK 2.0: HSK 3
HSK Lord study list: Not on a list

冬: On the old HSK 3 list, dropped from the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

Not on the new exam

冬 is not on the new HSK syllabus. Build the words the exam does test.

HSK Lord starts you at your level and schedules each review right before you would forget the word. Free to start.

Start studying free Studied the old HSK? Convert your level

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

冬