1.
bone-chilling cold; piercing cold
a deep, penetrating cold that seems to chill from the core, often associated with damp cold weather
Forms
底 (bottom, depths) + 冷え (coldness) → cold from the bottom/depths
Usage
底冷え typically describes:
- Damp cold rather than dry cold
- Cold that penetrates through clothing
- Cold that affects the core of the body
Common with する: 底冷えがする (to have bone-chilling cold)
Cultural note
Kyoto is famous for its 底冷え because the basin geography traps cold, humid air. The expression "京の底冷え" is well-known.