Word
冷める
Meaning in Englishbecome cool, cool down, fade
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
To become cold or cool down; used for both physical temperature and for a loss of warmth, enthusiasm, or emotional involvement.
Main meanings
- Physical cooling: something or someone becomes cooler in temperature
- Emotional cooling: warmth or interest wanes, feelings cool
- Figurative disengagement: enthusiasm for a topic or situation fades
How to use it
Used in everyday speech to describe both physical cooling and emotional detachment; casual and neutral registers are common; typical pattern is subject が 冷める with appropriate conjugation reflecting the change of state.
Variants and close terms
- 興ざめる (kyouzameru) losing interest; romaji kyouzameru
- 熱中する (netsuchuu suru) be absorbed or interested; romaji netsuchuu suru
Composition
- 冷 cold or coolness in temperature
- める a verb suffix indicating a change of state; together they form to become cold
Word class
verb (一段, ichidan)