Translation guide
How to express 'get cold' in Japanese, covering temperature changes in weather, objects, body parts, and food, as well as emotional coldness.
Describing when the weather, air, or surroundings turn cold.
The most common way to say the weather or air gets cold. 寒い (cold) + なる (to become).
だんだん寒くなってきた。
It's gradually getting cold.
夜は急に寒くなります。
It gets cold suddenly at night.
Emphasizes a sharp drop in temperature, often used for chilly mornings or nights.
今朝は特に冷え込んだ。
It got especially cold this morning.
Describing when something like a drink, metal, or hands loses heat and feels cold.
Used for objects that become cold to the touch. 冷たい (cold to the touch) + なる.
スープが冷たくなった。
The soup got cold.
手が冷たくなってきた。
My hands are getting cold.
Specifically for hot things (food, drinks, bathwater) cooling down to room temperature. Intransitive.
コーヒーが冷めちゃった。
The coffee got cold.
お風呂が冷めた。
The bath got cold.
Transitive verb meaning to cool something down intentionally. Not 'get cold' but related.
This means 'to cool something', not 'to become cold'. Use only when someone actively cools an object.
Expressing that one's body or a body part feels cold, often due to illness or environment.
Feeling a chill or shiver, often from fever or cold weather.
なんだか寒気がする。
I feel a bit cold (like I'm getting chills).
The body becomes cold, often due to poor circulation or cold exposure.
足が冷えて眠れない。
My feet are so cold I can't sleep.
Specifically for prepared food or beverages that were hot and are now cooling down.
Intransitive verb for hot things naturally cooling down.
料理が冷めないうちに食べよう。
Let's eat before the food gets cold.
More general; can imply it became unpleasantly cold to the touch.
味噌汁が冷たくなった。
The miso soup got cold.
Describing when feelings, enthusiasm, or a relationship becomes less warm or distant.
Used metaphorically for passion or interest cooling down.
彼への気持ちが冷めた。
My feelings for him have cooled.
Describes a person's attitude becoming cold or distant.
最近、彼女の態度が冷たくなった。
Lately, her attitude has become cold.
寒い (samui) is for atmospheric or environmental coldness (air, weather). 冷たい (tsumetai) is for coldness felt by touch (objects, liquids, body parts). Use 寒くなる for weather getting cold, and 冷たくなる for things getting cold to the touch.
Saying スープが寒い (sūpu ga samui) is incorrect. Use 冷たい (tsumetai) or 冷める (sameru) for food and drinks.
ビールを冷やしてください。
Please chill the beer.