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.
ビールを冷蔵庫で冷やしてください。
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.
スープを冷ましてから飲みましょう。
Let's chill the soup before drinking it.
To freeze or chill to a frozen state. More intense than simple cooling.
魚を冷凍して保存します。
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.
夜になると冷えてきました。
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.
コーヒーが冷めていく。
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.
その話を聞いてぞっとした。
I felt a chilling sensation hearing that story.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'hair-raising' or 'chilling'. Literally 'body hair stands up'. Stronger and more literary.
身の毛がよだつような叫び声が聞こえた。
I heard a chilling scream that made my hair stand on end.
Literally 'spine freezes', meaning a chilling, terrifying experience. Used in written or dramatic contexts.
背筋が凍るような体験だった。
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).
今日は家でまったりしてる。
I'm just chilling at home today.
友達とのんびり過ごした。
I chilled with my friends.
Means to laze around or veg out. Slightly more casual and can imply laziness.
週末はだらだらしてたい。
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.
家でくつろいでいます。
I'm chilling at home.