Japanese word

冷ます

Pronunciation

Romajisamasu

Meaning

  • verblet cool

Example

料理を冷まします。ryō ri o sa ma shi ma su

I let the food cool.

Illustration for 冷ます (let cool)

More examples

子どもに出す前に、スープを冷まします。ko do mo ni da su mae ni sū pu o sa ma shi ma su

I let the soup cool before serving it to the child.

Core concept

Describes causing something hot to lose heat until it reaches a suitable temperature.

Common phrases

  • お茶を冷ますo cha o sa ma su

    let the tea cool

  • ご飯を冷ますgo han o sa ma su

    let the rice cool

  • 熱湯を冷ますnet tō o sa ma su

    let boiling water cool

Similar words

冷やすhiyasu: To lower the temperature of something, including making it cold or chilled.
冷めるsameru: To become less hot as heat naturally leaves it.

Definition in Japanese

熱い物を、温度が下がるようにする。atsu i mono o on do ga sa ga ru yō ni su ru

Word origin

冷ます (samasu) is a native Japanese verb historically formed from 冷む (samu, "become cool") with the causative suffix す (su, "make").

Usage tips

  • Advanced learners distinguish 冷ます (samasu, "make something cool") from 冷める (sameru, "become cool"), because the former takes the cooled thing as its object while the latter describes its change.

Opposites

Related words

  • 冷まし方samashikataway to coolnoun

Word lists with this word