ドライ

どらい
na-adjective, noun
dry; unemotional, detached
descriptive
1. dry
Not wet; lacking moisture. Used for hair, weather, beverages, and other physical contexts.
ドライヤー(かみ)ドライする
Dry your hair with a hair dryer.
This wine is dry and easy to drink.
The dry winter air makes my skin dry out.
2. unemotional, detached, businesslike
Describes a person or attitude that is cool, rational, and unsentimental. Implies someone who does not let emotions influence decisions or relationships.
あの(ひと)ドライだ。
That person is detached.
He has an unemotional personality — he didn't cry even after the breakup.
It's better to make detached judgments when it comes to work.

Usage

Sense 2 is particularly common in Japanese. Calling someone ドライ is not necessarily negative — it can mean admirably rational. However, it can also imply coldness or a lack of human warmth depending on context.

Similar words

The opposite of ドライ (sense 2) is ウェット, which describes someone sentimental and emotionally attached. This ドライ/ウェット contrast is a common way to describe personality types in Japanese.

Common collocations