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興を冷ます (きょうをさます) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-su)
spoil the fun ; be a wet blanket ; kill the mood
Used when someone's words or actions ruin an enjoyable atmosphere or dampen others' enthusiasm. Often implies a sudden change from a lively mood to a subdued one.
まさ
ない
で
よ
。
It's a party, so don't kill the mood by talking about that.
Kanji 興 entertain, revive, retrieve 冷 cool, cold (beer, person), chill Similar words 水みず を 差さ す Both mean to spoil a good atmosphere, but 水を差す literally means 'to pour water on' and often implies interrupting or discouraging someone's enthusiasm, while 興を冷ます focuses more on cooling down an already excited or fun mood.
白しら ける 白ける is an intransitive verb meaning 'to become awkward' or 'to lose interest', describing the state of the atmosphere or people's feelings. 興を冷ます is transitive, describing the action of someone causing that state.
Etymology The expression combines 興 (きょう, 'interest' or 'fun') with 冷ます (さます, 'to cool down'), literally meaning 'to cool down the fun'. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of using temperature metaphors for emotional states.
