Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "かぜ", "風邪", "冷たい", "そっけない"
All represent the core concept "cold", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
かぜ
かぜ (kaze)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
風邪
かぜ (kaze)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
冷たい
つめたい (tsumetai)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
そっけない
そっけない (sokkenai)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cold" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "かぜ", "風邪", "冷たい", "そっけない" based on context.
- かぜ (かぜ (kaze) - Level: N5): Maps to "a cold, flu" and is used when This word.
- 風邪 (かぜ (kaze) - Level: N4): Maps to "cold (illness)" and is used when Commonly used to refer to a common cold. Often used with ひく.
- 冷たい (つめたい (tsumetai) - Level: N4): Maps to "cold (to the touch)" and is used when Describes something that is cold to the touch.
- そっけない (そっけない (sokkenai) - Level: N2): Maps to "cold, short, blunt, curt, unsociable, ungracious" and is used when Describes someone's manner or response as being indifferent, brusque, or lacking warmth..
Context for "かぜ"
かぜを引いて、熱があります。
I caught a cold and have a fever.
Context for "風邪"
風邪をひいて、学校を休みました。
I caught a cold and took a day off from school.
Context for "冷たい"
冷たい水をください。
Please give me some cold water.
Context for "そっけない"
彼女の返事はいつもそっけない。
Her replies are always curt.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ を引いて、熱があります。" (Meaning: "I caught a cold and have a fever.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "かぜ" is correct here because it represents "a cold, flu" in the context: "I caught a cold and have a fever.".