Translation guide
The English word 'chilling' can refer to making something cold, the sensation of coldness, a frightening effect, or relaxing informally. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To cool food, drinks, or objects, often by refrigeration or ice.
Transitive verb meaning to cool or chill something. Commonly used for drinks, food, or body parts.
Please chill the beer in the fridge.
Transitive verb meaning to let something cool down, often from a hot state to room temperature. Used for cooked food or hot liquids.
Let's chill the soup before drinking it.
To freeze or chill to a frozen state. More intense than simple cooling.
I chill the fish by freezing it for preservation.
The process of something losing heat and becoming cold.
Intransitive verb meaning to get cold or chilled. Used for objects, body parts, or weather.
It's getting chilling as night falls.
Intransitive verb meaning to cool down gradually, often from a hot state. Used for food, drinks, or emotions.
The coffee is chilling (cooling down).
Something frightening, eerie, or disturbing.
Phrase meaning to shudder or feel a chill from fear or disgust. Very common for 'chilling' in a scary sense.
I felt a chilling sensation hearing that story.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'hair-raising' or 'chilling'. Literally 'body hair stands up'. Stronger and more literary.
Literally 'spine freezes', meaning a chilling, terrifying experience. Used in written or dramatic contexts.
It was a chilling experience.
Spending time in a relaxed, unhurried way, often with friends.
There is no direct verb for 'chilling' as relaxing. Use まったりする (relaxing in a cozy way) or のんびりする (taking it easy).
I'm just chilling at home today.
I chilled with my friends.
Means to laze around or veg out. Slightly more casual and can imply laziness.
I want to chill and do nothing on the weekend.
To relax and make oneself comfortable. More formal than まったり.
English 'chilling' as slang for relaxing has no direct Japanese equivalent. Avoid literal translations like 冷やしている. Use まったりする or のんびりする instead.
冷やす is for actively cooling something (e.g., with ice), while 冷ます is for letting something cool down naturally from a hot state.
I heard a chilling scream that made my hair stand on end.
家でくつろいでいます。
I'm chilling at home.