At the A1 level, you only need to know that 凍る (kooru) means 'to freeze.' You will mostly see it in very simple sentences about nature or the weather. For example, 'Mizu ga kooru' (Water freezes). At this stage, don't worry about the complex grammar; just associate the sound 'kooru' with the image of ice. You might see it in a picture book about winter. Remember that it's a verb, an action that water does. If you see ice on the ground, you can point and say 'Kootte iru!' to practice the state. It's a 'Group 1' or 'Godan' verb, but at A1, just memorizing the dictionary form and the polite form 'koorimasu' is enough to get by.
At the A2 level, you should start using 凍る to describe the environment around you. You should be able to use the 'te-form' to describe states: kootte iru (is frozen). This is very useful when talking about the weather or road conditions. You should also learn the past tense kootta to describe things that happened, like 'The pond froze last night.' You might start seeing it in simple weather forecasts. It is also important at this level to distinguish kooru from samui (cold weather). Remember: kooru is a verb (an action/state change), while samui is an adjective (a feeling).
By B1, you should be comfortable with the metaphorical uses of 凍る. You will encounter phrases like 'ba ga kooru' (the atmosphere froze/the room went cold). This level requires you to understand how the word is used in social contexts to describe a sudden stop in conversation or a chilling feeling. You should also be able to use the potential form kooreru and the conditional forms like kooreba (if it freezes) or koottara (if/when it freezes). You should also know the difference between kooru (intransitive) and kooraseru (transitive/causative), which allows you to say things like 'I froze the leftovers.'
At B2, you are expected to understand 凍る in more complex literature and news reports. You will see it used in compound words and more formal settings. You should recognize the noun form touketsu (freezing/icing) which uses the same kanji. You should also be able to use kooru to describe more abstract concepts, such as a 'frozen smile' (kootta egao) or a 'frozen heart.' Your ability to distinguish between kooru and its synonyms like kogoeru (for people) or hieru (for chilling) should be near-perfect. You can also use it with auxiliary verbs like ~hajimeru (to start freezing) or ~tsuzukeru (to continue freezing).
At the C1 level, you will encounter 凍る in classical-style literature or highly specialized technical writing. You should understand its nuances in poetry, where it might symbolize death, silence, or the passage of time. You will be able to discuss the etymology of the kanji and its relation to other characters in the 'ice' radical family. You should also be familiar with rare idioms and four-character compounds (yojijukugo) that might include the kanji 凍. At this level, you aren't just using the word; you are appreciating its texture in the Japanese language and how it contributes to the 'wabi-sabi' of winter descriptions.
At the C2 level, your mastery of 凍る is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You can use it in high-level academic debates, perhaps discussing the 'freezing' of assets in a legal context or the 'freezing' of biological samples in cryogenics. You understand the subtle difference between kooru and more obscure verbs like itetsuku (to be frozen hard/frozen over). You can use the word with perfect pitch and timing to create dramatic effect in storytelling or professional presentations. You are also aware of regional dialects (hogen) where freezing might be described with different local verbs.

凍る 30초 만에

  • Kooru means 'to freeze' (intransitive). Used for water turning to ice or roads becoming slippery.
  • It is a Godan verb. Common forms include kootte iru (is frozen) and kootta (froze).
  • Metaphorically used for the atmosphere 'freezing' or a person 'freezing' with fear.
  • Do not confuse with 'kogoeru' (people feeling cold) or 'hieru' (getting chilled).

The Japanese verb 凍る (kooru) is a fundamental intransitive verb used primarily to describe the physical process of a liquid turning into a solid state due to a drop in temperature. For English speakers, the primary translation is 'to freeze' or 'to turn into ice.' However, its usage extends beyond the literal freezing of water into ice cubes. It captures the natural phenomenon of winter landscapes, the practical concerns of household maintenance in cold climates, and the metaphorical stillness of human emotion or atmosphere. Understanding kooru requires recognizing its status as an intransitive verb (自動詞 - jidoushi), meaning the action happens to the subject itself without an external agent acting upon it in the grammatical structure of the sentence.

Physical State Change
The most common use involves water. When the temperature hits zero degrees Celsius, water 凍る. This applies to lakes, ponds, puddles, and even the moisture on the ground.
Metaphorical Stasis
Just as in English, Japanese uses 'freezing' to describe a sudden halt in movement or a chilling of the social atmosphere. If someone is terrified, their blood might feel like it is 凍る, or the 'air' (atmosphere) in a room might freeze when a secret is revealed.
Daily Life & Infrastructure
In cold regions like Hokkaido or Tohoku, people frequently discuss water pipes (水道管) that 凍る. This is a serious logistical issue, showing the word's practical importance.

寒い夜には、池の水が凍ることがあります。
(On cold nights, the pond water sometimes freezes.)

恐怖で全身が凍るような思いをした。
(I felt as if my whole body was freezing with fear.)

The kanji consists of the 'ice' radical on the left (two strokes representing ice crystals) and the character for 'east' on the right, which here acts as a phonetic and semantic component suggesting a hardening or tightening. When you see this kanji, think of the rigid, unyielding nature of ice. In a social context, kooru is used in the phrase ba ga kooru (the place/atmosphere froze), which is the direct equivalent of 'the room went cold' or 'the mood was killed.' This versatility makes it a high-frequency verb for anyone living through a Japanese winter or reading dramatic literature.

冷凍庫に入れておいた飲み物が凍ってしまった。
(The drink I left in the freezer has frozen.)

Weather Reports
Listen for 'ro-men tou-ketsu' (road surface freezing) on the news. While 'touketsu' is the noun, the verb 凍る is what people say when warning friends about slippery roads.

道が凍っているから、気をつけて歩いてください。
(The road is frozen, so please walk carefully.)

Using 凍る (kooru) correctly involves mastering its conjugations and understanding its role as an intransitive verb. Because it is a Godan verb (Group 1), its stem changes follow the 'u-tsu-ru' pattern for the te-form. For example, the te-form is 凍って (kootte). This is essential for describing states, such as 'is frozen' (凍っている).

Describing a Current State
When you see a frozen lake, you don't just say 'kooru.' You say 凍っている (kootte iru). This indicates the continuous state of being frozen. If you say 'kooru,' you are describing the process that will happen or happens generally.
Completed Action
Using the past tense 凍った (kootta) often implies a result. 'The water froze' suggests it is now ice. This is frequently paired with shimau to show regret: 凍ってしまった (kootte shimatta) — 'Oh no, it froze!'

バケツの水がカチカチに凍っている
(The water in the bucket is frozen rock-solid.)

One of the most interesting ways kooru is used in Japanese is through onomatopoeia. The word kachi-kachi is often used to describe something frozen hard. You might say 'kachi-kachi ni kootta' to emphasize that something is completely solid. Another nuance is the difference between physical freezing and feeling cold. You do not use kooru to say 'I am cold' (that would be samui for the weather or tsumetai for a touch). You only use kooru for yourself if you are literally turning into ice or metaphorically paralyzed by shock.

あまりの寒さに、鼻水が凍りそうだ。
(It's so cold, my runny nose feels like it's about to freeze.)

Figurative Usage: The Atmosphere
In social settings, ba ga kooru (the place froze) is a common idiom. It describes a situation where a joke falls flat or a taboo subject is brought up, causing everyone to stop talking and feel awkward.

彼の冗談で、その場の空気が一瞬で凍った
(The atmosphere of the place froze instantly because of his joke.)

In Japan, you will encounter 凍る (kooru) in a variety of real-world contexts, from the mundane to the dramatic. Its presence in daily life is particularly strong during the winter months, especially in regions that experience sub-zero temperatures. Understanding these contexts helps you recognize the word when it's spoken at natural speeds.

Morning News and Weather Forecasts
Weather presenters frequently use kooru to warn commuters. You might hear: 'Ashita no asa wa michi ga kooru osore ga arimasu' (There is a fear/risk that the roads will freeze tomorrow morning). This is a crucial warning for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Kitchen and Cooking
When dealing with frozen foods, you'll hear the related word reito (frozen/refrigerated), but the verb kooru is used for the process. 'Kore, kootte iru kara kaito shinai to' (Since this is frozen, I have to defrost it).
Winter Sports and Recreation
At ski resorts or ice skating rinks, the condition of the surface is described using kooru. If the snow has turned to ice, it's 'kootte iru,' making it dangerous for beginners.

水道が凍らないように、水を少し出しておこう。
(Let's leave a little water running so the pipes don't freeze.)

In Japanese media, specifically anime and manga, kooru is a staple of the fantasy and action genres. Characters with ice powers will often shout commands or descriptions involving freezing. You might hear a villain say, 'Kootte shine!' (Freeze and die!) or a hero describe a monster's breath as 'subete wo kooraseru' (freezing everything). While 'kooraseru' is the transitive form, the base verb kooru is the root of these dramatic expressions. Furthermore, in psychological thrillers, the 'freezing' of blood or the heart is a common trope to describe intense fear or shock.

その光景を見て、血が凍るような衝撃を受けた。
(Seeing that sight, I felt a shock that made my blood freeze.)

When learning 凍る (kooru), English speakers often encounter three main pitfalls: confusing transitivity, mixing up similar 'cold' verbs, and misapplying the word to human body temperature. Avoiding these will make your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.

Mistake 1: Transitivity Errors
In English, 'freeze' works as both 'The water freezes' and 'I freeze the water.' In Japanese, these are different. 凍る is only for the water doing the freezing. If YOU are the one putting something in the freezer to make it ice, you must use 凍らせる (kooraseru). Saying 'Watashi wa mizu wo kooru' is grammatically incorrect.
Mistake 2: Kooru vs. Hieru vs. Sameru
Japanese has many words for 'getting cold.' Kooru is specifically for turning into ice. 冷える (hieru) is for something becoming chilled (like a beer). 冷める (sameru) is for something hot losing its heat (like coffee or passion). If your beer 'kooru,' it's a disaster because it's now a block of ice!
Mistake 3: Describing Personal Coldness
If you are shivering, do not say 'kootte iru' unless you are literally a snowman. To say you are freezing (very cold), use 凍える (kogoeru). This verb is specifically for living things suffering from cold. 'Kogoesou da!' means 'I'm freezing to death!'

私は水を凍る
私は水を凍らせる
(Correction: Use the causative/transitive form for actions you perform.)

Another subtle mistake is using kooru for things that don't actually turn into ice. For example, if a computer screen 'freezes,' Japanese usually uses フリーズする (furiizu suru) or 固まる (katamaru - to harden). While kooru can be used metaphorically for people, it is rarely used for technology. Using the English loanword 'furiizu' is the safest bet for digital contexts.

To truly master 凍る (kooru), you should know the words that surround it in the semantic field of 'cold' and 'solidification.' Japanese is very specific about the state of matter and the feeling of temperature.

凍える (Kogoeru)
As mentioned, this is for people or animals. If you stay outside in a t-shirt in January, you are kogoeru. It implies shivering, numbness, and the physical suffering of cold.
冷える (Hieru)
This means to get chilled. It's often used for things that are pleasant when cold, like beer or watermelon, or for one's feet getting cold in a drafty room (ashi ga hieru).
固まる (Katamaru)
This means 'to harden' or 'to solidify.' While ice is hard, katamaru is used for things like concrete, jelly, or even a group of people gathering together. It doesn't require a temperature change.
氷結する (Hyoketsu suru)
This is a more formal, technical term for freezing. You see it in news reports or scientific contexts. It's a Sino-Japanese (Kango) word, whereas kooru is a native (Wago) word.

比較:
1. 水が凍る (Water turns to ice)
2. 手が凍える (Hands are freezing/numb with cold)
3. ビールが冷える (Beer gets chilled)

In terms of antonyms, the most direct opposite is 溶ける (tokeru), which means 'to melt.' When the sun comes out and the frozen lake turns back to water, you say 'koori ga toketa' (the ice melted). Note that tokeru can also mean 'to dissolve' (like sugar in tea), which shows how Japanese often links the physical state of becoming liquid into one concept.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The kanji 凍 (freeze) contains the radical 冫, which is called 'nisui' (two-water). It's a simplified version of the radical for ice (氷).

발음 가이드

UK koːɾɯ
US koʊɾu
The pitch accent is typically 'Atamadaka' (Type 1), meaning the first syllable 'ko' is high and the rest are low: KO-oru.
라임이 맞는 단어
Tooru (to pass) Nooru (knoll - rare) Booru (ball) Gooru (goal) Sooru (sole) Ooru (all) Kooru (call - loanword) Mooru (mall)
자주 하는 실수
  • Pronouncing it as 'koru' (short o), which means to be stiff.
  • Over-emphasizing the 'r' like an English 'r'.
  • Making the final 'u' too prominent; it's often slightly voiceless.
  • Confusing the pitch with 'kooru' (to call/shout - archaic).
  • Not lengthening the 'o' enough.

난이도

독해 2/5

The kanji is common but has a few strokes. Easy to recognize.

쓰기 3/5

The 'ice' radical is easy, but the 'east' part needs practice.

말하기 2/5

Simple pronunciation, just remember the long 'o'.

듣기 2/5

Easy to hear, but don't confuse with 'koru'.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

水 (water) 冬 (winter) 寒い (cold) 氷 (ice) なる (to become)

다음에 배울 것

溶ける (to melt) 冷える (to get chilled) 凍える (to freeze - people) 冷凍 (refrigeration) 滑る (to slip)

고급

凍てつく (itetsuku) 霜 (shimo - frost) 氷柱 (tsurara - icicle) 凝固点 (freezing point) 凍土 (frozen soil)

알아야 할 문법

Intransitive Verbs (自動詞)

水が凍る (The water freezes.)

Te-iru for State (状態の〜ている)

湖が凍っている (The lake is frozen.)

Te-shimau for Regret (〜てしまう)

水が凍ってしまった (The water froze [unintentionally].)

Sou for Likelihood (〜そうだ)

水道が凍りそうだ (The pipes look like they'll freeze.)

Potential Form (可能形)

これなら凍れる (It can freeze if it's like this - rare usage.)

수준별 예문

1

水が凍る。

Water freezes.

Simple subject + verb.

2

冬は池が凍ります。

In winter, the pond freezes.

Polite form of 'kooru'.

3

とても寒いから、道が凍る。

Because it's very cold, the road freezes.

Using 'kara' for reason.

4

水が凍って、氷になった。

The water froze and became ice.

Te-form used for sequence.

5

バナナが凍りました。

The banana froze.

Past polite form.

6

海は凍りません。

The sea doesn't freeze.

Negative polite form.

7

ジュースが凍るかな?

I wonder if the juice will freeze?

Sentence ending particle 'kana' for wondering.

8

朝、窓が凍っていた。

In the morning, the window was frozen.

State of being 'te-ita'.

1

道が凍っているから、気をつけて。

The road is frozen, so be careful.

Te-iru form to describe current state.

2

昨夜、滝が凍ったそうです。

I heard the waterfall froze last night.

Using 'sou desu' for hearsay.

3

寒すぎて、手が凍りそうです。

It's so cold, my hands feel like they're going to freeze.

Verb stem + 'sou' for appearance/likelihood.

4

冷凍庫の奥で、野菜が凍ってしまった。

The vegetables in the back of the freezer froze (unintentionally).

Te-shimau for regretful action.

5

北海道では、冬に川が凍ります。

In Hokkaido, rivers freeze in winter.

Locative particle 'de'.

6

この湖は、冬の間ずっと凍っています。

This lake is frozen all through winter.

Duration phrase 'aida zutto'.

7

タオルが凍るほど寒いです。

It's cold enough for a towel to freeze.

Using 'hodo' to show extent.

8

水たまりが凍っているのを見つけた。

I found a frozen puddle.

Nominalizing the clause with 'no'.

1

水道管が凍らないように対策をする。

Take measures so the water pipes don't freeze.

Negative verb + 'you ni' for purpose.

2

彼女の鋭い一言で、その場の空気が凍った。

The atmosphere of the place froze at her sharp remark.

Metaphorical usage of 'kooru'.

3

もし湖が凍れば、スケートができます。

If the lake freezes, we can skate.

Conditional 'ba' form.

4

あまりの恐ろしさに、血が凍る思いがした。

I felt like my blood was freezing from the sheer horror.

Idiomatic expression for extreme fear.

5

凍った地面で滑って転んでしまった。

I slipped and fell on the frozen ground.

Adjectival use of past tense 'kootta'.

6

夜の間に、洗濯物がカチカチに凍っていた。

During the night, the laundry froze rock-solid.

Onomatopoeia 'kachi-kachi'.

7

この液体は、零度以下にならないと凍りません。

This liquid won't freeze unless it goes below zero degrees.

Conditional 'to' with negative.

8

都会では道が凍ることはめったにない。

In the city, it's rare for the roads to freeze.

Phrase 'koto wa metta ni nai'.

1

零下十度を下回ると、あらゆるものが凍り始める。

When it drops below minus ten degrees, everything starts to freeze.

Verb stem + 'hajimeru' (to start).

2

彼の冷淡な態度に、私の心は凍りついた。

My heart froze at his cold attitude.

Compound verb 'koori-tsuku' (to freeze solid).

3

路面が凍結しているため、スピードを落として走行してください。

Because the road surface is frozen, please reduce your speed.

Formal 'touketsu' (noun) vs 'kooru' context.

4

冬のシベリアでは、吐く息さえも凍ると言われている。

It is said that in winter Siberia, even the breath you exhale freezes.

Passive 'iwarete iru'.

5

凍りついたような静寂が部屋を支配した。

A frozen-like silence dominated the room.

Simile using 'youna'.

6

一度凍った食材は、早めに使い切るべきだ。

Ingredients that have frozen once should be used up quickly.

Using 'beki' for obligation.

7

不況の影響で、新規採用が凍結された。

New hiring was frozen due to the recession.

Business usage of the kanji 'touketsu'.

8

冬山では、水筒の水が凍らないように注意が必要だ。

On winter mountains, you must be careful so the water in your canteen doesn't freeze.

Noun 'chuui' (caution) + 'hitsuyou' (necessary).

1

凍てつく夜の空気は、刃物のように鋭かった。

The freezing night air was as sharp as a blade.

Literary verb 'itetsuku'.

2

交渉は決裂し、両国の関係は完全に凍りついた。

Negotiations broke down, and relations between the two countries froze completely.

Diplomatic/Abstract usage.

3

北国の冬は、万物が凍り、生命の鼓動が止まったかのようだ。

In the winter of the North, everything freezes, and it's as if the pulse of life has stopped.

Formal 'banbutsu' (all things).

4

彼の瞳には、凍った湖のような冷たさが宿っていた。

In his eyes dwelt a coldness like a frozen lake.

Metaphorical description of personality.

5

資産が凍結され、彼は一文無しになった。

His assets were frozen, and he became penniless.

Legal/Financial term 'touketsu'.

6

凍りついた記憶が、ふとした瞬間に蘇る。

Frozen memories resurface at an unexpected moment.

Abstract usage for psychological states.

7

厳冬の候、滝は巨大な氷柱となって凍り果てていた。

In the season of severe winter, the waterfall had completely frozen into a giant icicle.

Verb + 'hateru' (to do completely/to the end).

8

その一言が、熱を帯びていた議論を一瞬にして凍らせた。

That one word instantly froze the heated debate.

Causative form 'kooraseru'.

1

極寒の地における物質の凍結挙動は、未だ解明されていない点が多い。

The freezing behavior of matter in extremely cold regions still has many unexplained points.

Technical/Scientific register.

2

万葉の昔から、歌人は凍てつく月影に寂寥を見出してきた。

Since the days of the Manyoshu, poets have found loneliness in the freezing moonlight.

Classical/Historical reference.

3

細胞を凍結保存する技術は、医療の進歩に不可欠である。

Technology for cryopreserving cells is essential for medical progress.

Compound 'touketsu hozon'.

4

凍りついた大地が春の訪れとともに、再び息吹き始める。

The frozen earth begins to breathe again with the arrival of spring.

Personification of the earth.

5

その政治的決断は、長年続いてきた友好関係を凍結させるに等しい。

That political decision is equivalent to freezing a long-standing friendship.

Complex comparative 'ni hitoshii'.

6

永久凍土の融解は、地球温暖化の深刻な兆候である。

The melting of permafrost is a serious sign of global warming.

Scientific term 'eikyuu toudo'.

7

凍りつくような沈黙の中で、彼は運命の宣告を待った。

In a freezing silence, he awaited the verdict of fate.

Dramatic/Narrative style.

8

思考が凍りつき、言葉が喉に張り付いて出てこなかった。

My thoughts froze, and words stuck in my throat and wouldn't come out.

Psychological description.

자주 쓰는 조합

水が凍る
道が凍る
池が凍る
空気が凍る
血が凍る
水道が凍る
カチカチに凍る
表面が凍る
一瞬で凍る
凍りそうな寒さ

자주 쓰는 구문

場が凍る

— The atmosphere becomes awkward or silent suddenly.

失礼な発言で場が凍った。

凍るような視線

— A very cold, unfriendly look from someone.

彼女の凍るような視線を感じた。

凍った笑顔

— A forced or stiff smile, often from tension.

彼は凍った笑顔で挨拶した。

凍りつくような恐怖

— Terror so intense it makes you unable to move.

凍りつくような恐怖を味わった。

道が凍結する

— The road surface freezes (more formal).

路面が凍結しているので注意。

冷凍庫で凍る

— To freeze inside a freezer.

アイスが冷凍庫で凍っている。

手が凍りつく

— Hands feeling like they are stuck or frozen solid.

寒さで手が凍りつきそうだ。

凍った湖

— A lake covered in ice.

凍った湖の上を歩く。

凍るほど冷たい

— So cold that it feels like it could freeze.

凍るほど冷たい水で顔を洗う。

凍りかけた水

— Water that has started to freeze.

凍りかけた水を飲む。

자주 혼동되는 단어

凍る vs 凝る (koru)

Means to be stiff (shoulders) or devoted. Pronounced with a short 'o'.

凍る vs 凍える (kogoeru)

Used for living things (people/animals) feeling very cold.

凍る vs 冷える (hieru)

Used for getting chilled or losing heat, but not necessarily becoming ice.

관용어 및 표현

"血が凍る"

— To be chilled to the bone with fear.

その叫び声に血が凍った。

Literary
"身も凍る"

— So scary or cold that even the body feels frozen.

身も凍るような怪談話。

Common
"肝が凍る"

— To be frightened out of one's wits (liver freezing).

肝が凍るような思いをした。

Old-fashioned
"空気が凍りつく"

— The mood becomes extremely tense and silent.

二人の喧嘩で空気が凍りついた。

Common
"凍った沈黙"

— A cold, heavy silence.

部屋には凍った沈黙が流れた。

Literary
"心が凍る"

— To become emotionally numb or cold.

悲しみのあまり心が凍ってしまった。

Poetic
"表情が凍りつく"

— One's expression suddenly becomes rigid from shock.

ニュースを聞いて彼の表情が凍りついた。

Common
"凍てつく月"

— A cold, clear moon in winter.

凍てつく月が夜空に輝く。

Poetic
"氷河のように凍る"

— To freeze as slowly and solidly as a glacier.

二人の仲は氷河のように凍りきっている。

Metaphorical
"言葉が凍る"

— To be unable to speak from shock.

驚きで言葉が凍りついた。

Literary

혼동하기 쉬운

凍る vs 冷める (sameru)

Both mean losing heat.

Sameru is for something hot becoming room temperature (like soup). Kooru is for becoming ice.

お茶が冷める vs 水が凍る

凍る vs 冷やす (hiyasu)

Both involve cold.

Hiyasu is transitive (you chill it). Kooru is intransitive (it freezes).

ビールを冷やす vs 水が凍る

凍る vs 凍らせる (kooraseru)

Same root.

Kooraseru is transitive (you freeze it). Kooru is intransitive (it freezes).

氷を作るために水を凍らせる。

凍る vs 固まる (katamaru)

Both mean getting hard.

Katamaru is general (jelly, cement). Kooru is specific to cold/ice.

ゼリーが固まる vs 池が凍る

凍る vs 氷 (koori)

Same kanji/concept.

Koori is the noun (ice). Kooru is the verb (to freeze).

氷を食べる vs 水が凍る

문장 패턴

A1

[Noun] が 凍る。

水が凍る。

A2

[Noun] が 凍っている。

道が凍っている。

B1

[Noun] が 凍らないように [Action]。

水道が凍らないように水を出す。

B1

[Event] で [Place/Atmosphere] が 凍る。

ジョークで場が凍る。

B2

[Noun] が 凍り始める。

池が凍り始める。

B2

凍った [Noun] を [Action]。

凍った肉を焼く。

C1

凍るような [Noun]。

凍るような寒さ。

C2

[Noun] が 凍りつくす。

大地が凍りつくす。

어휘 가족

명사

凍結 (touketsu - freezing)
冷凍 (reitou - refrigeration)
解凍 (kaitou - thawing)
凍傷 (toushou - frostbite)

동사

凍らせる (kooraseru - to freeze [transitive])
凍える (kogoeru - to be chilled)
凍てつく (itetsuku - to freeze hard)

형용사

凍った (kootta - frozen)
凍りつくような (koori-tsuku youna - freezing-like)

관련

氷 (koori - ice)
冬 (fuyu - winter)
雪 (yuki - snow)
冷たい (tsumetai - cold to touch)
寒い (samui - cold weather)

사용법

frequency

High, especially in winter or when discussing food.

자주 하는 실수
  • Watashi wa mizu wo kooru. Watashi wa mizu wo kooraseru.

    Kooru is intransitive. You cannot 'kooru' an object. You must use the causative 'kooraseru'.

  • Samui kara kootte iru. Samui kara kogoete iru.

    If you are talking about yourself feeling cold, use 'kogoeru'. 'Kootte iru' means you are literally ice.

  • Kata ga kootta. Kata ga kotta.

    Stiff shoulders is 'koru' (short o), not 'kooru'.

  • Pasokon ga kootta. Pasokon ga furiizu shita.

    Computers 'furiizu' or 'katamaru', they don't 'kooru' unless you poured water on them and put them in the freezer.

  • Koori wo kooru. Mizu ga kooru.

    You don't freeze ice; you freeze water to make ice.

State vs. Action

Use 'kootte iru' for 'is frozen' and 'kooru' for 'will freeze' or 'freezes' (general truth).

The Long O

Make sure to hold the 'o' for two beats. 'Ko-o-ru'. This distinguishes it from 'koru' (stiff).

Handling Awkwardness

If you kill the mood, you can apologize by saying 'Ba wo koorasete shimatte sumimasen' (Sorry for freezing the atmosphere).

Winter Warning

If you see ice on the stairs, tell others: 'Kootteru kara ki wo tsukete!' (It's frozen, so be careful!)

Onomatopoeia Pairing

Pair 'kooru' with 'kachi-kachi' to emphasize that something is frozen hard like a rock.

Kanji Radical

The left side of 凍 is two strokes, meaning ice. The right side is 'east'. Think of the cold winds from the east freezing the water.

Writing Tip

Don't confuse 凍 (freeze) with 練 (practice) or 運 (carry). Focus on that 'ice' radical on the left.

Pipe Protection

In Japan, 'suidou ga kooru' is a common winter fear. Learn the phrase to understand plumber warnings.

Poetic Usage

Look for 'itetsuku' in novels; it's a more beautiful, intense version of 'kooru'.

Defrosting

If someone asks if the meat is ready, you can say 'Mada kootte iru' (It's still frozen).

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'CO-OL' (cool) but make it 'KO-ORU'. When things get too cool, they 'kooru' (freeze).

시각적 연상

Imagine a 'COre' (ko) of ice 'OR' (oru) a frozen lake. The 'O's in 'kooru' look like two round ice cubes.

Word Web

Ice Winter Cold Solid Road Pipe Freezer Fear

챌린지

Go to your freezer, point at an ice tray, and say 'Mizu ga kootte iru.' Then, tell a friend about a 'ba ga kootta' moment you had.

어원

The word 'kooru' is a native Japanese (Wago) verb. It has been used since the Old Japanese period to describe the hardening of water into ice.

원래 의미: To solidify or become rigid due to cold.

Japonic

문화적 맥락

Be careful when using 'kooru' to describe people; it can sound very harsh or dramatic.

English speakers use 'freeze' for computers, but Japanese speakers usually use 'furiizu' or 'katamaru'.

The movie 'Frozen' is 'Anna to Yuki no Joou' in Japan, but the verb 'kooru' appears in its lyrics. Haiku by Matsuo Basho often mention frozen things. Anime like 'Bleach' or 'Naruto' feature ice techniques using the root 'koo'.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Weather Forecast

  • 路面凍結注意
  • 水道管の凍結
  • 氷点下
  • 凍る恐れ

In the Kitchen

  • 冷凍庫に入れる
  • 凍った肉
  • カチカチ
  • 解凍する

Driving in Winter

  • 道が凍っている
  • スタッドレスタイヤ
  • 滑りやすい
  • 急ブレーキ禁止

Social Situations

  • 場が凍る
  • 空気が凍りつく
  • 寒いジョーク
  • 沈黙

Nature Observation

  • 湖が凍る
  • 氷が張る
  • 冬の景色
  • 凍った滝

대화 시작하기

"今朝、道が凍っていましたか? (Was the road frozen this morning?)"

"あなたの国では冬に川が凍りますか? (Do rivers freeze in winter in your country?)"

"寒いジョークで場が凍ったことはありますか? (Have you ever had the room freeze because of a cold joke?)"

"水道が凍らないように何かしていますか? (Are you doing anything to prevent the pipes from freezing?)"

"凍った湖の上を歩いたことがありますか? (Have you ever walked on a frozen lake?)"

일기 주제

今日はとても寒くて、バケツの水が凍っていた。冬の訪れを感じる。(Today was so cold, the water in the bucket was frozen. I feel winter's arrival.)

昨日、会議で変なことを言ってしまい、一瞬で場が凍ってしまった。(Yesterday, I said something strange in a meeting, and the room froze instantly.)

北海道の冬は、すべてが凍る世界だという。一度行ってみたい。(They say winter in Hokkaido is a world where everything freezes. I want to go once.)

冷凍庫の奥で凍っていた古いお肉を見つけた。整理しないといけない。(I found some old meat frozen in the back of the freezer. I need to organize it.)

凍った道で滑りそうになった。冬の靴を買うべきかもしれない。(I almost slipped on a frozen road. I should probably buy winter shoes.)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, you should use 'samui' (for weather) or 'kogoeru' (if you are freezing/shivering). Using 'kooru' for yourself implies you are literally turning into a block of ice.

'Kooru' is a native verb used in daily conversation. 'Touketsu' is a formal noun/suru-verb used in technical or professional contexts like 'frozen assets' or 'frozen roads' in a news report.

Usually, you say 'pasokon ga furiizu shita' or 'pasokon ga katamatta.' 'Kooru' is rarely used for technology.

It is intransitive (jidoushi). The subject is the thing that becomes ice. To freeze something else, use 'kooraseru'.

It literally means 'the place freezes.' It's an idiom meaning the atmosphere became awkward and everyone stopped talking, usually because of a social blunder.

Yes, any liquid that turns solid due to cold can be described with 'kooru'.

The te-form is 'kootte' (凍って). It follows the Godan 'u-tsu-ru' pattern.

Use the stem + sou: 'koori-sou' (凍りそう).

No, that is 'koru' (short o). Be careful with the vowel length!

Physically, yes. Metaphorically, it involves a 'freezing' of movement, speech, or emotion.

셀프 테스트 190 질문

writing

Translate: 'The lake froze last night.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The road is frozen, so please be careful.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'My hands are so cold they feel like they will freeze.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Water turns into ice when it freezes.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The atmosphere of the place froze suddenly.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'I am freezing to death!' (using kogoeru)

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Please don't freeze the juice.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The frozen meat is hard.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The waterfall has frozen solid.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'My blood froze with fear.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Frozen food is convenient.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The pipes froze and broke.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The road surface is frozen.' (Formal)

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'It's cold enough to freeze.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Frozen memories.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'I found a frozen puddle.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The sea does not freeze here.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'If it freezes, it will be slippery.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The laundry is frozen.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'A frozen-like silence.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Mizu ga kooru' (Water freezes).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Michi ga kootte iru' (The road is frozen).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Samusugite koori-sou' (It's so cold I feel like I'll freeze).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Ba ga kootta' (The atmosphere froze).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kachi-kachi ni kootte iru' (It's frozen rock-solid).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Suidou ga kooranai you ni' (So the pipes don't freeze).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kootta niku wo kaito suru' (Defrost the frozen meat).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Koori-tsuku youna kyoufu' (Freezing-like terror).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kootta egao' (A frozen smile).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Ashimoto ga kootte iru yo' (It's frozen underfoot, you know).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kore, kootteru?' (Is this frozen?)

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Mada kootte iru ne' (It's still frozen, isn't it).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kootte shimatta!' (It froze! - regret)

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Ame ga kootta' (The rain froze).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kooru hodo samui' (Cold enough to freeze).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Itetsuku yoru' (Freezing night).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Chi ga kooru omoi' (A feeling like blood freezing).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Kooraseru na' (Don't freeze it).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Hyoketsu chuui' (Freezing warning).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say: 'Mizu ga kooreba...' (If water freezes...).

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Michi ga kootte iru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Ba ga kootta.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Suidou ga kooru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kooranai you ni.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Koori-sou desu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kootta niku.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kooraseru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Itetsuku yoru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Touketsu chuui.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kachi-kachi ni kootta.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Mizu ga kooru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kootte shimatta.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kootta egao.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Koori-tsuku.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kooru hodo.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

/ 190 correct

Perfect score!

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