Usage and Nuances
The verb 冷ます (さます) means "to cool" or "to let something cool down." It is commonly used when you want to reduce the temperature of food, drinks, or other hot objects. The action is usually intentional and controlled by the speaker.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 冷ます in cooking or daily life situations, such as cooling hot tea, food, or even cooling down heated objects before handling them.
Collocations and Patterns
- 熱を冷ます (ねつをさます): to cool down a fever or heat
- 食べ物を冷ます (たべものをさます): to let food cool
- 熱い飲み物を冷ます (あついのみものをさます): to cool a hot drink
Register and Politeness
冷ます is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. When speaking politely, it is often combined with ください (please) as in 熱いお茶を冷ましてください.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 冷ます with 冷める (さめる), which means "to become cool" or "to cool down" by itself (intransitive). Remember, 冷ます is transitive (you cool something), while 冷める is intransitive (something cools by itself).