What does 凝固 mean?

[ellie_c]

Was just wondering what the phrase 凝固 means in English? As in... 一种凝固的历史. My dictionary says coagulation... but that doesn't quite sound right. Hope someone can help me out

[shibo77]

凝固nínggù verb to solidify, to coagulate

-Shìbó

[Long Zhiren]

http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php yields this entry:

(v) congeal; solidify / (v) with rapt attention

Applying definition #2 to "一种凝固的历史," you get "one kind of riveting story." [a story that grabs one's attention.]

It's hardly stagnant...perhaps not quite as strong as "blood-curdling," but it stops you frozen in your tracks...

[roddy]

If it's this article you are reading, I think 'stagnant' might be the best way to understand it, in contrast to the 'living history' of 鲜活地传承下来的历史 - the emperor is gone, so the history of the Forbidden City has stopped, while the history of the surrounding area is still being written by those living there.

Not sure if it is that one, but it seems to be the only example on the internet

Edit: Although if it's this one then maybe solidified, or crystalized, as it doesn't have the somewhat negative implication of the first.

Roddy

[chenpv]

I think 'stagnant' might be the best way to understand it

hehe donno. 凝固 here shows a snapshot of certain period of history with awesome solemn.

[roddy]

Yeah, I'm starting to doubt that one myself. I definitely don't like 'coagulated history' though

[HashiriKata]

Would "a kind of frozen history" (一种凝固的历史) make any sense?

(I personally could imagine something being described as "a piece of frozen history")

[Long Zhiren]

How do you know if "历史" means "history" or "story?"

I think I need more context on this one.

I'm not sure if "frozen" is the best word to use. You could wind up with

"一种冰冷的历史" Hah! It's a history of the Harbin ice festival.

[chenpv]

"一种冰冷的历史" Hah! It's a history of the Harbin ice festival.

哈哈，绝倒！！ :mrgreen: 很久没有眼前一亮的感觉了......醍醐灌顶.......