肌寒い
はだざむい
i-adjective
chilly, slightly cold
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 肌寒い | 肌寒くない |
| Past | 肌寒かった | 肌寒くなかった |
| て form | 肌寒くて | 肌寒くなくて |
| Adverbial | 肌寒く | — |
| Conditional ば | 肌寒ければ | 肌寒くなければ |
| Conditional たら | 肌寒かったら | 肌寒くなかったら |
1.
chilly, slightly cold, cool enough to feel on the skin
A mild degree of cold felt on the skin, typically describing weather or air temperature. Conveys a sensation milder than 寒い (cold) — the kind of chill that makes you want a light jacket.
Pronunciation
This word has two readings: 肌寒い and 肌寒い. Both are correct and widely used. This entry covers the はだざむい reading.
Usage
肌寒い describes a subtle, skin-level chill — not deep cold, but enough to notice. It is a seasonal word often associated with early autumn or late spring, when daytime is warm but mornings and evenings are cool.
Compared to 寒い (cold), 肌寒い is milder and more specific to the sensation on the skin. Compared to 涼しい (cool, refreshing), 肌寒い has a slightly unpleasant nuance — not refreshing, but uncomfortably cool.