冷ます|さますsamasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto cool (e.g. from a high temperature to room temperature); to let cool
    ちょっと冷さまして、熱あついうちは食たべないように。↗
    Let your food cool off a bit; don't eat it while it's hot.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto dampen; to throw a damper on; to spoil
Conjugation
Dictionary form冷ます(さます)
Polite (masu)冷まします(さまします)
Negative (nai)冷まさない(さまさない)
polite (masen)冷ましません(さましません)
classical zu / nu冷まさず・冷まさぬ(さまさず・さまさぬ)
Past (ta)冷ました(さました)
polite (mashita)冷ましました(さましました)
Past negative (nakatta)冷まさなかった(さまさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)冷ましませんでした(さましませんでした)
Te form冷まして(さまして)
Potential冷ませる(さませる)
Passive冷まされる(さまされる)
Causative冷まさせる(さまさせる)
Causative passive冷まさせられる(さまさせられる)
Conditional (ba)冷ませば(さませば)
tara冷ましたら(さましたら)
Volitional冷まそう(さまそう)
polite (mashou)冷ましましょう(さましましょう)
Imperative冷ませ(さませ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive冷ますさます⇄intransitive冷めるさめる
スープを冷さます
冷める focuses on the event or resulting state, as in スープが冷める; 冷ます foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in スープを冷ます.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym冷やすひやすNeutralFor actively chilling or refrigerating something, as in 「ビールを冷やす」; 「冷ます」 is for letting something hot cool down.
  • Synonym冷却れいきゃくWrittenWritten/formal word for cooling or lowering a temperature, mostly of machines; in everyday speech say 「冷ます」 or 「冷やす」.
  • Antonym温めるあたためるNeutralThe everyday opposite on the hot–cold axis: to warm or heat something up.
  • Antonym熱するねっするWrittenA written/formal opposite: to heat something up.

Use 「冷ます」 to let something hot cool down or to dampen enthusiasm; use 「冷やす」 to chill or refrigerate on purpose, and 「冷却」 for machine cooling in formal writing. The opposites are 「温める」 and 「熱する」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 熱ねつを冷ひやす。
  2. 高たかぶった感情かんじょうを静しずめる。
  3. 興きょうをそぐ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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