Translation guide
How to express 'cool off' in Japanese, covering literal cooling of objects, cooling down of people, and calming emotions.
To become cooler in temperature, or to make something cooler.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool down' (naturally). Used for hot things like food, drinks, bathwater, or enthusiasm.
Transitive verb meaning 'to cool something down' (deliberately). Used for food, drinks, etc.
I let the hot coffee cool off before drinking it.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to get cold/chilly'. Often used for weather, body parts, or things that become cold (not just cool).
It cools off at night, so you should bring a jacket.
My hands and feet got cold.
Transitive verb meaning 'to cool/chill something'. Often used for drinks, injuries, or body parts.
I chilled the beer (let it cool off).
I cooled my forehead with ice.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool oneself off', often by going to a cooler place or enjoying a breeze. Used for people seeking relief from heat.
I cooled off in the shade of a tree.
To become less angry, excited, or passionate.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to calm down, settle down'. The most common way to say 'cool off' for emotions.
Let's talk after you cool off a bit.
Also used metaphorically for enthusiasm or passion cooling off.
To rest or pause in order to lower body temperature or calm emotions.
冷める (intransitive) and 冷ます (transitive) are for things that were hot and become cooler (e.g., food, bath). 冷える (intransitive) and 冷やす (transitive) are for things becoming cold/chilly, often from an already cool state or due to external cold. For emotions, 冷める is used for passion cooling, while 落ち着く is for anger/excitement calming.
The loanword クールオフ (kūru ofu) exists but refers specifically to a 'cooling-off period' in legal/consumer contexts (e.g., canceling a contract). It is not used for literal cooling or calming down.
He cooled off quickly.
Idiom literally meaning 'to cool one's head'. Used when someone needs to calm down from anger or excitement.
I'll come back after I cool off.
I'm going outside to cool off for a bit.
My feelings for him cooled off.