冷(つめ)たい

つめたい
adjective (i-adjective)
cold (to touch)
1. cold (to the touch)
Describes cold objects, drinks, or things you can touch. Different from 寒い (samui), which describes cold weather.
冷(つめ)たいお水(みず)をください。
Please give me cold water.
この水(みず)は冷(つめ)たいですね。
This water is cold, isn't it?
手(て)が冷(つめ)たいです。
My hands are cold.
夏(なつ)は冷(つめ)たいビールが美味(おい)しいです。
Cold beer is delicious in summer.
プールの水(みず)が冷(つめ)たくて、入(はい)れなかった。
The pool water was so cold that I couldn't get in.
2. cold-hearted, unfriendly
Figuratively describes a person who is cold, unfriendly, or indifferent.
彼(かれ)は冷(つめ)たい人(ひと)です。
He is a cold person.
Figurative meaning
冷(つめ)たい目(め)で見(み)られた。
I was looked at with cold eyes.
冷(つめ)たい態度(たいど)を取(と)らないでください。
Please don't act so cold toward me.
あの店員(てんいん)は冷(つめ)たくて、もう行(い)きたくない。
That clerk was so unfriendly that I don't want to go back.
昔(むかし)は優(やさ)しかったのに、最近(さいきん)は冷(つめ)たくなりました。
She used to be kind, but recently she's become cold.

冷(つめ)たい is an i-adjective meaning "cold" for things you can touch, or "cold-hearted" for people.

FORMS:

  • Adverb: 冷(つめ)たく
  • Noun: 冷(つめ)たさ (coldness)
  • Negative: 冷(つめ)たくない
  • Past: 冷(つめ)たかった

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION:

  • 冷(つめ)たい: cold to touch (objects, drinks, hands)
  • 寒(さむ)い: cold weather/temperature (ambient)

SENSE 1 - PHYSICAL COLD:

SENSE 2 - COLD-HEARTED:

OPPOSITES:

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:36 · Revised 2026.2.13 11:44
00500/00681_tsumetai