Meaning and Usage
"冷える" (ひえる) means "to grow cold" or "to cool down." It is often used to describe things like air temperature, food, drinks, or the body becoming cold naturally or unintentionally.
Common Contexts
You will hear "冷える" when talking about the weather getting colder, food or drinks cooling down, or when someone feels cold physically. It is a common verb in everyday conversation, especially in autumn and winter.
Collocations and Patterns
- 冷える + noun (e.g., 空気が冷える): describing something becoming cold
- 体が冷える: feeling physically cold or chilled
- 冷えすぎる: to become too cold
Register and Politeness
"冷える" is a neutral verb suitable for casual and polite conversation. It is not formal but widely acceptable.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "冷える" with "冷やす" (to cool something intentionally). Remember, "冷える" is intransitive (something becomes cold by itself), while "冷やす" is transitive (someone cools something).