1.
to cool down
For something hot to become cooler.
コーヒーが冷めた。
The coffee got cold.
料理が冷める前に食べよう。
Let's eat before the food gets cold.
お風呂のお湯が冷めないうちに入ったほうがいい。
You should take your bath before the hot water cools down.
2.
to wear off, to fade
For enthusiasm or interest to diminish.
興味が冷める。
Interest fades.
最初の熱意はすぐに冷めてしまった。
The initial enthusiasm quickly wore off.
付き合い始めた頃は夢中だったが、だんだん気持ちが冷めていった。
When we first started dating, I was crazy about it, but gradually my feelings cooled off.
冷める is an intransitive verb meaning to cool down or for enthusiasm to fade.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 自動詞 (intransitive)
- Pair: 冷ます (transitive, to cool something)
HOMOPHONE WARNING:
- 冷める: to cool down (temperature/emotions)
- 覚める: to wake up
PHYSICAL COOLING:
- コーヒーが冷めた: the coffee got cold
- 料理が冷める前に食べて: eat before the food gets cold
FIGURATIVE (emotions fading):
- 興味が冷める: interest fades
- 愛情が冷める: love cools
- 熱が冷める: enthusiasm wanes
ASPECT (ている):
冷めている indicates something is already cold or enthusiasm has already faded.