Translation and Meaning of: 冷える - hieru

The expression 「冷える」 (hieru) is a Japanese verb that means "to cool" or "to become cold." This word is used to describe the action of something, usually an environment or an object, that becomes cold. It is a common term in everyday situations, such as when talking about the weather or the temperature of food and drinks.

Etymologically, 「冷える」 derives from the ideogram 「冷」, which by itself can be read as 「れい」 (rei) and means "cold". The verb is also related to 「冷たい」 (tsumetai), which is an adjective for "cold to the touch". Linguistic ambiguities often arise in languages with shared ideograms, as is the case in Japanese. Analyzing the radical, the water 「氵」 on the left side of the kanji is present, conveying the idea of something related to liquids and their temperature.

The use of 「冷える」 encomes various situations. It is common to hear this word in the meteorological context to describe a sudden drop in temperature at night. Additionally, in everyday situations, such as when dinner cools down after being served, you can use this word. Another interesting application is when talking about body temperature, like "cold" feet or hands during a colder season.

In addition to its use in physical contexts, in a more metaphorical sense, 「冷える」 can be used to refer to feelings or social climates that become "cold," such as a relationship or an atmosphere between people. This demonstrates the flexibility and versatile meaning of this expression in Japanese culture and language.

Vocabulary

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Verb conjugation of 冷える

• 冷えます - Polite form 丁寧語
• 冷えない - negative form
• 冷えろ - imperative
• 冷えている - Progressive form

Synonyms and similar words

• 冷やす (Hiyasu) - Cool something down, make it cold
• 冷たくなる (Tsumetakunaru) - To become cold, in a sense generally related to temperature or emotions.
• 冷凍する (Reitou suru) - Freeze something, preserve at low temperatures
• 冷やかす (Hiyakasu) - Tease or joke with someone; playfully provoke.
• 冷ます (Samasu) - Let something cool down, make something lose heat.