“Cold (to the touch)” in Japanese is 冷たい (つめたい), pronounced tsumetai.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Cold things and drinks, and also cold-hearted people.
Example sentences
- 冷たい水をください。つめたいみずをください。Cold water, please.
- 手が冷たいです。てがつめたいです。My hands are cold.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 冷たい. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 冷たい つめたい | cold (to the touch) |
| Polite present | 冷たいです つめたいです | is cold (to the touch) |
| Negative | 冷たくないです つめたくないです | isn’t cold (to the touch) |
| Past | 冷たかったです つめたかったです | was cold (to the touch) |
| Past negative | 冷たくなかったです つめたくなかったです | wasn’t cold (to the touch) |
| て-form | 冷たくて つめたくて | cold (to the touch) and… |
| Adverb (く) | 冷たく つめたく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say cold (to the touch) in Japanese?
Cold (to the touch) in Japanese is 冷たい (つめたい), pronounced “tsumetai”.
How do you write cold (to the touch) in Japanese?
It's written 冷たい with kanji, or つめたい in hiragana. Both are read tsumetai.
Is 冷たい on the JLPT?
Yes. 冷たい (tsumetai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.