Translation guide
Describes cold weather or a cold sensation, often mildly cold. In Japanese, different words are used for weather, air temperature, and personal feeling of cold.
Describing the weather or air temperature as cold, often unpleasantly so.
The most common word for cold weather or air. Used for ambient temperature.
Literally 'skin-cold', used for a slight chill in the air, often in early autumn or spring.
秋の夜は肌寒い。
Autumn nights are chilly.
Verb meaning 'to get chilly/cold', often used for a sudden drop in temperature.
今夜は冷え込むそうだ。
They say it will get chilly tonight.
Expressing that you feel cold, or that a part of your body is cold.
Also used for personal sensation of cold. Can be used with body parts.
寒い！暖房をつけて。
I'm chilly! Turn on the heater.
手が寒い。
My hands are chilly.
Used for cold to the touch, like objects, liquids, or body parts. Not for ambient air.
Literally 'to have a chill', often implying a shiver or the onset of a cold.
なんだか寒気がする。
I feel a bit chilly/shivery.
Describing a person's demeanor or a social atmosphere as cold, unfriendly, or distant.
Used metaphorically for a cold attitude or unfriendly behavior.
彼は冷たい人だ。
He is a chilly person.
冷たい態度をとられた。
I was given the cold shoulder (a chilly attitude).
風が冷たい。
The wind is chilly.
足が冷たい。
My feet are chilly.
Describes a distant, standoffish, or chilly manner.
彼女はよそよそしかった。
She was chilly/distant.