Shoulder the Frost

One of the nice parts of coming and studying Chinese in Harbin is that I get to study many local colloquialisms and am able to better grasp both the culture of modern Manchuria and that of China as a whole. One such interesting phrase in Dongbei Hua (Northeastern Accented Mandarin) is 扛冻, meaning “to shoulder the frost”. The word refers to how people in this bitterly cold region see the cold weather. The cold, oppressive, heavy, and depressing as it is, is something that is bearable, and can be carried; much the way Chinese farmers and laborers carry loads on their shoulders. I found the term fascinating and mildly comforting in its own manner. Eventually, I hope to “truly able to shoulder the frost” as they say up here.