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}'.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
Water served at a low temperature.
文化的背景
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.
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).
自分をテスト
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.
🎉 スコア： /3
ビジュアル学習ツール
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}
練習問題バンク
4 問題{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.
Choose the correct sentence:
'Tsumetai' is used for objects. 'Samui' is for weather. I-adjectives don't use 'na' or 'da' before 'desu'.
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.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
4 問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'.
関連フレーズ
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.
どこで使う？
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。
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of a 'Tsunami' (Tsu-) making you 'Metai' (Matey, it's cold!) in the 'Mizu' (Water).
視覚的連想
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.
In Other Languages
In English, we just say 'cold water.' In Korean, 'chan-mul' (찬물) is a direct equivalent. In Chinese, 'lěng shuǐ' (冷水) is used similarly, though 'liáng shuǐ' (凉水) is often used for cool drinking water.
Word Web
チャレンジ
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.
Review this phrase on Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7. Focus on the distinction between 'tsumetai' (tactile cold) and 'samui' (ambient cold).
発音
Four syllables: tsu-me-ta-i. The 'tsu' is like the end of 'cats'.
Two syllables: mi-zu. The 'z' is voiced.
フォーマル度スペクトル
{冷たい|つめたい}お{水|みず}をいただけますでしょうか？ (Requesting water)
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}をください。 (Requesting water)
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}、ちょうだい。 (Requesting water)
{冷|つめ}たい{水|みず}、おねしゃす。 (Requesting water)
The word 'tsumetai' comes from the Old Japanese 'tsume-itai' (fingernail-painful). It originally described cold so intense it made one's extremities ache. 'Mizu' is a primary Japanese word with roots in the Jomon period.
豆知識
The kanji for cold (冷) actually depicts ice crystals next to a person giving an order, suggesting a 'chilling' command.
文化メモ
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.
“The waiter brings a glass of {冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず} without being asked.”
Cold water is used for 'Misogi' (purification). Practitioners stand under cold waterfalls or pour cold water over themselves to cleanse their spirits.
“{滝行|たきぎょう}で{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}に{打|う}たれます。”
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.
“The sound of {冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}が{響|ひび}きます。”
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.
“{公園|こうえん}で{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}を{飲|の}みます。”
会話のきっかけ
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}と{温|あたた}かいお{茶|ちゃ}、どちらが{好|す}きですか？
{暑|あつ}い{日|ひ}に何を{飲|の}みますか？
よくある間違い
{寒い|さむい}{水|みず}
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}
L1 Interference
{冷たい|つめたい}お{湯|おゆ}
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}
L1 Interference
{冷たい|つめたい}の{水|みず}
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}
L1 Interference
{冷た|つめた}な{水|みず}
{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}
L1 Interference
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.
Spotted in the Real World
“{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}に{手|て}を{浸|ひた}して”
A song about refreshing one's senses and starting over.
“{山|やま}の{冷たい|つめたい}{水|みず}でお{米|こめ}を{研|と}ぐ。”
The protagonist describes washing rice with cold mountain water.
間違えやすい
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).
よくある質問 (4)
Yes, but it means they are 'cold-hearted' or 'unfriendly'. It's not about their body temperature.
usage contextsAdding 'o' makes it more polite. In a restaurant or as a guest, 'o-mizu' is better.
grammar mechanicsIn winter, yes, it's very cold. In summer, it might be lukewarm, so people add ice.
practical tipsIt's traditional restaurant jargon that became standard polite Japanese for 'chilled water'.
cultural usage
