Meaning and Usage
"凍る" means "to freeze" or "to become frozen." It is commonly used to describe water or liquids turning into ice due to cold temperatures. It can also describe the sensation of something becoming very cold or stiff.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "凍る" in weather reports or when talking about cold seasons, especially winter. It is also used when liquids solidify, such as juice or soup freezing in a freezer.
Collocations and Patterns
- 水が凍る (みずがこおる): water freezes
- 手が凍る (てがこおる): hands feel frozen (very cold)
- 凍ってしまう (こおってしまう): something has frozen completely (often with a nuance of unintended or unfortunate freezing)
Register and Nuance
"凍る" is a neutral verb suitable for both casual and formal contexts. It is a natural choice when describing physical freezing. Avoid confusing it with "冷える" which means "to become cold" but not necessarily freeze.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "凍る" with "冷える." Remember, "凍る" implies the actual formation of ice, while "冷える" just means to get cold without freezing.