Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "風邪", "冷たい", "冷遇", "そっけない"
All represent the core concept "cold", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
風邪
かぜ (kaze)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
冷たい
つめたい (tsumetai)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
冷遇
れいぐう (reigū)
N3 / 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 "風邪", "冷たい", "冷遇", "そっけない" based on context.
- 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.
- 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 "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.
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: " ＿＿＿ をひいて、学校を休みました。" (Meaning: "I caught a cold and took a day off from school.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "風邪" is correct here because it represents "cold (illness)" in the context: "I caught a cold and took a day off from school.".