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.
熱いコーヒーを冷ましてから飲んだ。
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).
夜は冷えるから、上着を持っていったほうがいいよ。
It cools off at night, so you should bring a jacket.
手足が冷えた。
My hands and feet got cold.
Transitive verb meaning 'to cool/chill something'. Often used for drinks, injuries, or body parts.
ビールを冷やしておいた。
I chilled the beer (let it cool off).
氷で額を冷やした。
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.
木陰で涼んだ。
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.
ちょっと落ち着いたら話そう。
Let's talk after you cool off a bit.
彼はすぐに落ち着いた。
He cooled off quickly.
Also used metaphorically for enthusiasm or passion cooling off.
To rest or pause in order to lower body temperature or calm emotions.
Means 'to take a short rest'. Often used when cooling off from heat or exertion.
暑いから、ちょっと一休みしよう。
It's hot, so let's cool off for a bit.
More formal 'to take a break'. Can be used for cooling off during work or exercise.
少し休憩して体を冷やしましょう。
Let's take a break and cool off our bodies.
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.
Idiom literally meaning 'to cool one's head'. Used when someone needs to calm down from anger or excitement.
頭を冷やしてから出直します。
I'll come back after I cool off.
ちょっと外で頭を冷やしてくる。
I'm going outside to cool off for a bit.
My feelings for him cooled off.