Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "寒い", "風邪", "冷たい", "冷遇"
All represent the core concept "cold", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
寒い
さむい (samui)
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
冷遇
れいぐう (reigū)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cold" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "寒い", "風邪", "冷たい", "冷遇" based on context.
- 寒い (さむい (samui) - Level: N5): Maps to "cold (weather, air temperature)" and is used when An i-adjective used to describe the air temperature or weather as cold. Not used for objects..
- 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.
- 冷遇 (れいぐう (reigū) - Level: N3): Maps to "cold treatment; poor reception; neglect; chilly hospitality" and is used when Refers to treating someone coldly, giving a poor reception, neglecting, or showing chilly hospitality toward them. Contrast with 優遇.
Context for "寒い"
今日はとても寒いですね。
It's very cold today, isn't it?
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 "冷遇"
正当な評価をされず、会社で長年_______を受けてきた彼は、ついに転職を決意しました。
Not being evaluated fairly and having received cold treatment at the company for many years, he finally decided to change jobs.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "今日はとても ＿＿＿ ですね。" (Meaning: "It's very cold today, isn't it?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "寒い" is correct here because it represents "cold (weather, air temperature)" in the context: "It's very cold today, isn't it?".