冰炭不言，冷热自明 bīng tàn bù yán ， lěng rè zì míng

truth is clear without words; feelings show

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. ice or coals, whether hot or cold goes without saying (idiom); fig. sincerity is not expressed in words

Characters

Character Meaning
冰 bīng HSK 3
ice; (of an object or substance) to feel cold; to chill sth
炭 tàn HSK 5
coal; wood charcoal
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
言 yán HSK 4
to say; to talk; speech
冷 lěng HSK 1
cold; surname Leng
热 rè HSK 1
hot (of weather); heat; to heat up
自 zì HSK 3
self; oneself; from
明 míng HSK 1
bright; (of meaning) clear; to understand