纳凉 (nà liáng) literally means 'to receive coolness' — '纳' (nà) means 'to receive' or 'to take in', and '凉' (liáng) means 'coolness' or 'cool air'. Together, they form a poetic, slightly literary verb describing the act of seeking relief from summer heat by sitting in shade, under a tree, on a balcony, or near a breeze — often outdoors and socially, like with family or neighbors. It emphasizes comfort, leisure, and sensory refreshment rather than just temperature change.

This term is commonly used in summer contexts, especially in descriptions of traditional or relaxed outdoor activities: sipping tea on a courtyard stone bench, fanning oneself on a rooftop at dusk, or chatting while listening to cicadas. It carries a gentle, unhurried connotation — less about cooling down quickly (like using air conditioning) and more about harmonizing with natural coolness. While still understood nationwide, it’s more frequent in written Chinese, literature, and regional speech (e.g., Jiangsu, Zhejiang) than in casual daily talk among young urban speakers.