How to say "chilly" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 冷たいつめたいi-adjectiveCovers the literal, physical sense: cold to the touch, as in chilly water, wind, or hands. Use it when something's low temperature is actually felt on the skin.
- 肌寒いはださむいi-adjectiveDescribes chilly weather or air: a day, morning, or evening that feels unpleasantly cold on the skin — the go-to word for the weather sense of 'chilly'.
- 冷ややかひややかna-adjectiveChiefly figurative: a cold, unfriendly attitude, gaze, or reception, as in a chilly welcome or stare. For chilly weather or physically cold things it is seldom the word you want.
Use 「冷たい」 for physical coldness to the touch, 「肌寒い」 for weather that feels unpleasantly cold on the skin, and 「冷ややか」 chiefly for a cold, unfriendly manner or reception rather than temperature.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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