冷れい徹てつ

れ

い

て

つ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

cool-headed; level-headed; hard-headed

Describes a person or attitude that is calm, rational, and unswayed by emotion, often in a way that can seem cold or ruthless.

彼かれは冷れい徹てつな判はん断だんで会かい社しゃを立たて直なおした。
He rebuilt the company with cool-headed decisions.
冷れい徹てつな目めで現げん実じつを見みつめる必ひつ要ようがある。
We need to look at reality with a level-headed gaze.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

冷れい徹てつな判はん断だんa cool-headed, rational judgment
彼かれは冷れい徹てつな判はん断だんでリストラを決きめた。
He made the decision to lay off staff with cool, rational judgment.
冷れい徹てつな目めで〈事こと〉を見みるto view something with a cold, detached eye
彼かの女じょは冷れい徹てつな目めで現げん実じつを見みていた。
She viewed the reality with a cold, detached eye.
冷れい徹てつに〈動どう詞し〉to do something coolly and rationally
彼かれは状じょう況きょうを冷れい徹てつに分ぶん析せきした。
He analyzed the situation with cool, dispassionate reasoning.

Kanji

冷cool, cold (beer, person), chill
徹penetrate, clear, pierce

Related words

冷れい静せいN3
冷静 is the everyday word for being calm and composed, while 冷徹 adds a sharper nuance of rational, unemotional judgment that can seem cold or ruthless.
冷れい酷こくN1
冷酷 describes cruelty or a lack of compassion, whereas 冷徹 focuses on detached, rational thinking rather than outright cruelty.
沈ちん着ちゃく
沈着 emphasizes steady, unflappable composure (often paired as 冷静沈着), while 冷徹 stresses cold, clear-eyed rationality that can verge on ruthlessness.

Opposites

感かん情じょう的てきN3
感情的 means driven by emotion, the direct opposite of the dispassionate rationality expressed by 冷徹.

Don't confuse with

冷れい淡たんN1
冷淡 means cold or indifferent toward others' feelings, while 冷徹 is about rational, unswayed judgment rather than a lack of interest or warmth.

Etymology

Compound of 冷 (cold) and 徹 (penetrate, thorough), suggesting a thoroughly cold, penetrating rationality.