How to Say "Cold Water" in Japanese

冷たい水

tsumetai mizu

In Japanese, "cold water" is expressed as 冷たい水 (tsumetai mizu).

The phrase is used to refer to water that has a low temperature.

Which one should you use?

Use 冷たい水 (tsumetai mizu) to describe water that feels cold to the touch.

tsumetai mizu

Do not use 寒い水 to describe water.

When describing ice-cold water, you might hear the word キンキンに冷えた (kin-kin ni hieta). This is an onomatopoeic expression used to describe something that is 'clinking' or 'piercingly' cold, often used for drinks.
The phrase 冷たい水 (tsumetai mizu) is often associated with the traditional practice of Misogi, where practitioners pour cold water over themselves for ritual purification.
The adjective 冷たい (tsumetai) is also used metaphorically to describe a person's personality. If someone is described as 冷たい人 (tsumetai hito), it means they are 'cold-hearted' or indifferent, rather than physically chilly.

彼は冷たい水を浴びた。
He poured cold water over himself.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 冷たい水 when someone pours water over themselves.
Tatoeba #98915 by bunbuku, translation #304785 by CK
夏は、冷たい水でシャワーを浴びます。
In summer, I shower with cold water.
This sentence shows how to use 冷たい水 in the context of a summer shower.
Tatoeba #11277641 by small_snow, translation #11277637 by Luornu
トムは目を覚ますため冷たい水を自分にかけた。
Tom poured cold water over himself to wake himself up.
This sentence illustrates using 冷たい水 when someone wants to wake themselves up.
Tatoeba #1672074 by bunbuku, translation #1024336 by CK
お茶につめたい水を入れていただけますか？
Could you please add some cold water to my tea?
コンビニでお弁当を買ったので、冷たいお水をください。
I bought a bento box at the convenience store, so please give me some cold water.
5 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yui and Yota are in the kitchen on a hot afternoon.

結衣 Yui

暑いですね。冷たい水はありますか？
atsui desu ne. tsumetai mizu wa arimasu ka?
It's hot, isn't it? Do you have any cold water?
陽太 Yota

はい、冷蔵庫の中にありますよ。
hai, reizoko no naka ni arimasu yo.
Yes, it's inside the refrigerator.
結衣 Yui

ありがとうございます。いただきます。
arigatou gozaimasu. itadakimasu.
Thank you. I'll have some.
陽太 Yota

ゆっくり飲んでくださいね。
yukkuri nonde kudasai ne.
Please drink it slowly.

Sources

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