Translation guide
The English phrase 'cooling down' can refer to lowering temperature, calming emotions, or reducing intensity. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To become cooler in temperature, or to make something cooler.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool down' (naturally). Used for hot things losing heat.
スープが冷めた。
The soup cooled down.
お茶が冷めないうちにどうぞ。
Please have some tea before it cools down.
Transitive verb meaning 'to cool something down' (deliberately).
熱いコーヒーを冷ましてから飲んだ。
I cooled down the hot coffee before drinking it.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to get cold' or 'to become chilly'. Often used for weather or body parts.
夜になると冷えてきた。
It's cooling down as night falls.
手足が冷える。
My hands and feet are getting cold.
Transitive verb meaning 'to cool something down' (e.g., with ice or refrigeration).
ビールを冷やしておいた。
I chilled the beer (cooled it down).
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool oneself down', often by seeking shade or breeze. Used for people escaping heat.
木陰で涼んだ。
I cooled down in the shade of a tree.
To become less angry, excited, or passionate; to calm down.
Means 'to calm down' or 'to settle down'. Used for emotions, situations, or people.
少し落ち着いてください。
Please calm down a little.
彼は怒りが冷めるまで待った。
He waited until his anger cooled down.
Means 'to become quiet' or 'to subside'. Used for excitement or noise dying down.
To become less intense, active, or heated (e.g., economy, enthusiasm, relationship).
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool down' in the sense of enthusiasm or passion fading.
彼の熱意は冷め込んでしまった。
His enthusiasm has cooled down.
Also used metaphorically for feelings or interest cooling down.
二人の関係は冷めてしまった。
Their relationship cooled down.
Literally 'the heat cools down', meaning passion or excitement fades.
Gentle exercise to gradually reduce heart rate after a workout.
Loanword from English, commonly used in sports and fitness contexts.
運動の後はクールダウンを忘れずに。
Don't forget to cool down after exercise.
Native Japanese term for cool-down exercises, literally 'organizing exercise'.
整理運動をして筋肉の疲れを取る。
Cool down to relieve muscle fatigue.
冷める (sameru) is used for things that were hot and lose heat (e.g., food, drinks, bathwater). 冷える (hieru) is used for things becoming cold, often from an already cool state, or for body parts and weather. 冷める implies a return to room temperature, while 冷える implies becoming chilly.
To say 'I cooled down' (by going into the shade), use 涼む (suzumu), not 冷める. 冷める is for objects losing heat, not for a person's sensation of cooling off.
Literally 'cool one's head', meaning to calm down and think rationally after being upset.
ちょっと頭を冷やしてきたら？
Why don't you go cool down a bit?
騒ぎが静まった。
The commotion cooled down.
The boom has cooled down.