Meaning:

    “高” means “high,” and “冷” means “cold.” This term, coined by Chinese netizens, is short for “高贵冷艳,” which means “noble, brilliant and aloof.” Another take is “高傲冷漠,” which means “proud and aloof.” Chinese netizens use the term both as a noun and as an adjective, describing people who are extraordinary and cool. The connotation is rather neutral and varies with contexts.

    Example:

    A: 小林的男朋友你见过吗？

    Xiǎolín de nánpéngyǒu nǐ jiànguò ma?

    Have you met Lin’s boyfriend?

    B: 没有。是什么样的啊？

    Méiyǒu。Shì shénmeyàng de a?

    No. What is he like?

    A: 长的帅，会弹钢琴，家境富裕，所以很高冷的样子。

    Zhǎng de shuài, huì tán gāngqín, jiājìng fùyù, suǒyǐ hěn gāolěng de yàngzi。

    He’s good-looking, plays the piano, and was born loaded. So he appears to be cool and proud.

    B: 真不像是小林会喜欢的人啊。

    Zhēn bù xiàng shì xiǎolín huì xǐhuān de rén a。

    That description doesn’t sound like Lin’s cup of tea.