冷たい水
tsumetai mizu
Cold water
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to specifically ask for or describe water that is chilled or cold to the touch.
- Means: Water that has a low, refreshing temperature.
- Used in: Restaurants, after exercise, or when describing weather effects on nature.
- Don't confuse: Never use this for hot water; that is always called '{お湯|おゆ}'.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Water served at a low temperature.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Japan, water and tea are almost always provided for free as soon as you sit down. This is a sign of hospitality. In summer, it is always 'tsumetai mizu' or 'o-hiya' with ice. Cold water is used for 'Misogi' (purification). Practitioners stand under cold waterfalls or pour cold water over themselves to cleanse their spirits. Gardens often feature 'Suikinkutsu', a buried pot that creates a beautiful splashing sound when water drips into it, designed to make the listener feel 'cool' (suzushii) just by hearing the water. In Japan, tap water is safe to drink nationwide. You will often see public 'reisui' (cold water) fountains in parks and train stations that are well-maintained.
Restaurant Hack
If your water glass is empty, just say 'O-mizu kudasai' or 'O-hiya kudasai'. You don't always need to say 'tsumetai'.
Weather Mistake
Never say 'tsumetai' to describe a snowy day. Use 'samui' for the day and 'tsumetai' for the snow itself.
Bedeutung
Water served at a low temperature.
Restaurant Hack
If your water glass is empty, just say 'O-mizu kudasai' or 'O-hiya kudasai'. You don't always need to say 'tsumetai'.
Weather Mistake
Never say 'tsumetai' to describe a snowy day. Use 'samui' for the day and 'tsumetai' for the snow itself.
Health Context
In Japan, some people avoid 'tsumetai mizu' for health (digestion) and prefer 'jou-on' (room temperature).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank to ask for cold water.
{冷たい|つめたい}____をください。
'Mizu' is water. 'Oyu' is hot water, 'Tenki' is weather, and 'Gohan' is rice/meal.
Which sentence is correct to describe the cold water in a river?
Choose the correct sentence:
'Tsumetai' is used for objects. 'Samui' is for weather. I-adjectives don't use 'na' or 'da' before 'desu'.
Complete the dialogue at a restaurant.
Customer: すみません、{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}をください。 Waiter: はい、________。
'O-hiya' is the polite restaurant term for cold water.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Types of Water in Japan
Cold
- • {冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}
- • お{冷|ひ}や
- • {冷水|れいすい}
Hot
- • お{湯|おゆ}
- • {熱湯|ねっとう}
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenYes, but it means they are 'cold-hearted' or 'unfriendly'. It's not about their body temperature.
Adding 'o' makes it more polite. In a restaurant or as a guest, 'o-mizu' is better.
In winter, yes, it's very cold. In summer, it might be lukewarm, so people add ice.
It's traditional restaurant jargon that became standard polite Japanese for 'chilled water'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
お{冷|ひ}や
specialized formPolite term for drinking water in restaurants.
{冷水|れいすい}
formalCold water (technical/formal).
{氷水|こおりみず}
similarIce water.
{冷|つめ}たい{飲|の}み{物|もの}
builds onCold drink.
Wo du es verwendest
At a Restaurant
Customer: すみません、{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}をください。
Waiter: はい、お{冷|ひ}やですね。すぐにお{持|も}ちします。
After Jogging
Runner A: あぁ、{暑|あつ}い！{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}が{飲|の}みたい！
Runner B: あそこに{自販機|じはんき}があるよ。
Morning Routine
Child: お{母|かあ}さん、{水|みず}が{冷たい|つめたい}よ！
Mother: {冬|ふゆ}だからね。{頑張|がんば}って{顔|かお}を{洗|あら}って。
Convenience Store
Customer: {冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}はどこにありますか？
Staff: あちらの{冷蔵庫|れいぞうこ}の{中|なか}にございます。
Hiking in Nature
Hiker A: この{川|かわ}の{水|みず}、{触|ふ}れてみて。
Hiker B: わぁ、すごく{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}だね！
At the Gym
Member: このサーバー、{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}が{出|で}ません。
Staff: すみません、{確認|かくにん}いたします。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Tsunami' (Tsu-) making you 'Metai' (Matey, it's cold!) in the 'Mizu' (Water).
Visual Association
Imagine a glass of water so cold that frost is forming on the outside and little ice cubes are clinking against the glass. The word 'Tsumetai' sounds like 'Tsunami'—a cold wave of water.
Rhyme
Tsumetai mizu, refreshing for you and me-zu!
Story
You are hiking up Mt. Fuji in the summer. You are sweating and tired. You find a small spring. You dip your hand in and shout 'Tsumetai!' because it's freezing. You drink the 'Mizu' and feel instantly better.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time you are at a Japanese restaurant or cafe, try to ask for 'Tsumetai mizu o kudasai' instead of just pointing at the menu.
In Other Languages
agua fría
Spanish places the adjective after the noun.
eau froide
French uses one word for 'cold' (froid) where Japanese uses two.
kaltes Wasser
German has grammatical gender for water (das Wasser).
ماء بارد (ma' barid)
The word 'barid' can be used for weather, unlike 'tsumetai'.
冷水 (lěngshuǐ)
Chinese often omits the particle between adjective and noun in this specific compound.
찬물 (chanmul)
Korean often combines them into a single compound word 'chanmul'.
água gelada
'Gelada' implies a colder temperature than just 'fria'.
cold water
English uses 'cold' for both people, weather, and objects.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'cold' in English.
Use 'samui' for the air/weather, and 'tsumetai' for things you can touch.
Both relate to low temperatures.
'Suzushii' is 'cool/refreshing' (pleasant), while 'tsumetai' is 'cold' (can be biting).
FAQ (4)
Yes, but it means they are 'cold-hearted' or 'unfriendly'. It's not about their body temperature.
Adding 'o' makes it more polite. In a restaurant or as a guest, 'o-mizu' is better.
In winter, yes, it's very cold. In summer, it might be lukewarm, so people add ice.
It's traditional restaurant jargon that became standard polite Japanese for 'chilled water'.
