冷たい風
The English phrase "cold wind" is expressed in Japanese as 冷たい風.
Which one should you use?
You should use 冷たい風 for wind that feels physically cold to the touch. In contrast, 寒い風 is used more to describe the weather or the sensation of the air being cold.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the cold wind is the subject performing an action like blowing, it is often followed by the particle が. When you are experiencing or feeling the wind, the wind is often treated as the object of the verb using the particle を.
Did you know?
- While 冷たい風 describes a cold wind, the term 木枯らし refers specifically to the first cold wind of autumn that signals the arrival of winter.
- In Japanese, the word 冷たい used in 冷たい風 can also describe a person's personality, meaning they are 'cold-hearted' or distant.
- If a cold wind is particularly sharp or stinging, Japanese speakers often use the onomatopoeic expression びゅうびゅう (byū-byū) to mimic the sound of the wind whistling through buildings.
Examples in context
- 私は顔に冷たい風が当たるのを感じた。I felt a cold wind on my face.Tatoeba #157780 by bunbuku, translation #256751 by CK
- 窓を閉めて、冷たい風が入らないようにしてちょうだい。Shut the windows and keep that cold wind out.Tatoeba #140337 by bunbuku, translation #274236 by sundown
- 冷たい風が吹き込んだ。A cold wind blew in.Tatoeba #77664 by mookeee, translation #326054 by CM
- 寒風が身にしみる。The cold wind pierces me.
- 今日、寒風がビュービュー吹いてるよ！Today, the cold wind is blowing strongly!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking along a riverbank in late autumn.
- 美咲 Misaki冷たい風が吹いてきたね。Tsumetai kaze ga fuite kita ne.A cold wind has started blowing, hasn't it?
- 健太 Kentaうん、少し寒いね。Un, sukoshi samui ne.Yeah, it's a bit cold.
- 美咲 Misakiコートを着たほうがいいよ。Kōto o kita hō ga ii yo.You should wear a coat.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、そうするよ。Arigatō, sō suru yo.Thanks, I will.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
