冷暖自知 lěngnuǎnzìzhī the person drinking the water knows its temperature Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 如人饮水，冷暖自知 rúrényǐnshuǐlěngnuǎnzìzhī only the drinker knows if the water is cold or warm A proverb meaning that one's personal feelings or experiences can only be truly understood by oneself; self-awareness comes from within.