Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 氷 | kōri | [ko̞ːɾʲi] (narrow) |
| アイス | aisu | [a̠isɨ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word used depends entirely on what kind of ice you are discussing. Use 氷 to refer to frozen water, such as ice cubes used for cooling a drink. Conversely, the word アイス is a loanword from English used specifically in a culinary context to mean ice cream.
Which one should you use?
氷 refers specifically to frozen water or ice cubes, while アイス is used for ice cream. While 氷 is the standard Japanese word, アイス is a loanword from English used to describe the frozen dessert.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to describe the action of freezing, you can use the related verb 凍る.
How do you pronounce it?
kōri
When do people say it?
Note that if you wish to describe someone as a "cold-hearted person," Japanese speakers use the phrase 冷たい人 (tsumetai hito) rather than a phrase involving the word for ice.
Did you know?
- The word for ice cream, アイス, is an abbreviation of the English phrase 'ice cream', rather than a direct translation of the word 'ice'.
- In Japan, it is common to find 氷 specifically shaped as spheres in high-end whisky bars to slow down melting.
- The historical pronunciation of 氷 has shifted significantly over centuries, moving from a sound resembling 'kopori' to the modern 'kōri' used today.
Examples in context
- 氷は入れる？Would you like ice?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants ice in a drink.Tatoeba #9687105 by bunbuku, translation #318331 by CK
- アイス食べる？Do you want some ice cream?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants to eat ice cream.Tatoeba #3699447 by tommy_san, translation #3424156 by CK
- 氷が欲しいの？Do you want some ice cubes?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants ice cubes.Tatoeba #9959384 by small_snow, translation #8815834 by carlosalberto
- Sumimasen, kōri o kudasai (すみません、氷をください)Excuse me, may I have some ice, please?
- ko-hi- ni kōri o irete kudasai (コーヒーに氷を入れてください)Please put ice in the coffee
- 191 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A kitchen in the afternoon.
- 大翔 Hiroto氷、足りてる？koori, tariteru?Is there enough ice?
- 結衣 Yuiううん、氷が足りないよ。uun, koori ga tarinai yo.No, there isn't enough ice.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、作り直すね。jaa, tsukurinaosu ne.Then, I'll make more.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、助かるよ。arigatou, tasukaru yo.Thanks, that helps.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ice” translations and entries 氷, アイス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries アイス, 氷, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
