寒いチャンス
cold chance
Wörtlich: cold chance
Use it to describe a 'long shot' opportunity that feels unpromising or slightly pathetic.
In 15 Sekunden
- A very slim or unpromising opportunity with low success odds.
- Derived from gaming slang where 'cold' means low probability.
- Best used casually with friends or when being self-deprecating.
Bedeutung
A 'cold chance' refers to a very slim, unpromising, or weak opportunity where success feels unlikely. It’s like having a chance, but it’s so 'chilly' that it doesn't give you much hope.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Texting a friend about a difficult exam
ノー勉だけど、寒いチャンスに賭けるわ。
I didn't study, but I'll bet on this slim chance.
Watching a sports game where the team is losing badly
逆転は寒いチャンスだね。
A comeback is a pretty cold chance at this point.
Trying to buy a rare item at the last minute
在庫なし？寒いチャンスだけど、他店も見てみる。
Out of stock? It's a long shot, but I'll check other stores.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase draws from Japanese gaming and gambling culture (like Pachinko), where 'hot' (atsui) and 'cold' (samui) indicate the probability of a win. It also plays on the slang use of 'samui' to mean 'lame' or 'unfunny,' which became popular in the 1980s and 90s.
The Opposite is 'Atsui'
If something is a 'sure thing' or a very high-probability chance, call it an `熱いチャンス` (atsui chansu). It's the 'hot' version!
Careful with 'Samui'
Calling someone's joke `寒い` (samui) is a common way to say it's not funny. Be careful not to hurt feelings!
In 15 Sekunden
- A very slim or unpromising opportunity with low success odds.
- Derived from gaming slang where 'cold' means low probability.
- Best used casually with friends or when being self-deprecating.
What It Means
Imagine you're playing a video game and you have one tiny sliver of health left. You see an opening to attack, but the odds of it working are about 1%. That is exactly what a 寒いチャンス (samui chansu) feels like. In Japanese, the word 寒い (samui) usually means 'cold' regarding temperature, but in slang, it means 'lame,' 'pathetic,' or 'unpromising.' When you pair it with チャンス (chance), you’re describing an opportunity that lacks the 'heat' of a sure thing. It’s a window of opportunity that’s technically open, but there’s a cold draft blowing through it.
How To Use It
You’ll mostly use this as a descriptive noun phrase. You can say 寒いチャンスだね (It's a cold chance, isn't it?) when you're looking at a difficult situation with a friend. It’s a very visual way to say 'the odds are against us.' You don't need complex grammar here; just drop it into a sentence where you’d normally say 'slim chance.' It’s particularly popular among younger people or in gaming circles where 'hot' and 'cold' are used to describe win probabilities.
When To Use It
This phrase is perfect for casual, low-stakes moments. Think about trying to catch a train that is literally pulling away from the platform—that’s a 寒いチャンス. Or maybe you’re trying to get a ticket for a sold-out concert on a resale site for a normal price. It’s great for self-deprecating humor. If you're asking someone out who is way out of your league, you might tell your friend, 'It's a 寒いチャンス, but I'm going for it anyway!' It shows you’re realistic about the situation.
When NOT To Use It
Definitely avoid this in formal business settings or when talking to your superiors. If your boss gives you a difficult task and you call it a 寒いチャンス, you’re basically telling them their plan is pathetic and likely to fail. Not a great career move! Also, don't use it to describe the actual weather. If it’s snowing outside, just say 寒い (samui). Adding チャンス would make people think you’re waiting for a very unlikely snowflake to hit you.
Cultural Background
The metaphor of 'cold' meaning 'bad' or 'unlikely' has deep roots in Japan. For example, 懐が寒い (futokoro ga samui) means your wallet is 'cold' because it’s empty. However, the specific 'hot/cold' (atsui/samui) dynamic for opportunities really blew up in the world of Pachinko and gambling. In those games, certain lights or sounds indicate a 'hot' (high chance) or 'cold' (low chance) moment. Over time, this lingo leaked into everyday casual Japanese to describe any situation where the vibe is just... unpromising.
Common Variations
If a situation is truly hopeless, you might hear 激寒チャンス (gekizamu chansu), which means an 'extremely cold' or 'freezing' chance. On the flip side, the opposite is 熱いチャンス (atsui chansu), which means a 'hot' or 'high-probability' opportunity. You might also hear 寒い展開 (samui tenkai) to describe a 'lame' or 'boring' development in a movie or a conversation.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a slangy collocation. It is highly informal and should be reserved for friends, gaming contexts, or casual social media posts. Avoid in academic or professional writing.
The Opposite is 'Atsui'
If something is a 'sure thing' or a very high-probability chance, call it an `熱いチャンス` (atsui chansu). It's the 'hot' version!
Careful with 'Samui'
Calling someone's joke `寒い` (samui) is a common way to say it's not funny. Be careful not to hurt feelings!
The Wallet Secret
If you want to sound like a local when you're broke, say `懐が寒い` (futokoro ga samui). It literally means 'my pocket is cold' because there's no money to keep it warm.
Beispiele
6ノー勉だけど、寒いチャンスに賭けるわ。
I didn't study, but I'll bet on this slim chance.
Uses 'samui chansu' to show the speaker knows they will likely fail.
逆転は寒いチャンスだね。
A comeback is a pretty cold chance at this point.
Expressing realism about a game's outcome.
在庫なし？寒いチャンスだけど、他店も見てみる。
Out of stock? It's a long shot, but I'll check other stores.
Describes a low-probability search.
その計画は寒いチャンスですね。
That plan is a pathetic opportunity.
This would be considered very rude in a professional setting.
僕とデートするなんて、寒いチャンスでしょ？
Going on a date with me is a pretty slim chance, right?
Self-deprecating humor used to break the ice.
寒いチャンスだと分かっていても、諦めたくない。
Even though I know it's a slim chance, I don't want to give up.
Adds a layer of determination to a difficult situation.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best word to describe a very unlikely opportunity.
宝くじで1等当てるなんて、___チャンスだよ。
Winning the top prize in a lottery is extremely unlikely, making it a 'cold' (samui) chance.
Which phrase would you use to tell a friend their plan is a long shot?
それはかなり___チャンスだね。
'Samui' is the slang term used to describe something unpromising or 'chilly' in terms of success.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Level of 'Samui Chansu'
Used with close friends or in gaming/online communities.
激寒チャンスきた！
Casual conversation with peers.
寒いチャンスだね。
Avoid. Use 'nozomi usu' (slim hope) instead.
望み薄でございます。
When to say 'Samui Chansu'
Gaming
Low drop rate for items
Sports
Team losing in final minutes
Dating
Asking out a celebrity
Exams
Guessing on a hard test
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, while 寒い means cold weather, 寒いチャンス is a metaphorical expression for a slim or unpromising opportunity.
It's common in casual speech, especially among younger people and gamers, but it's not a formal idiom found in textbooks.
Only with very close colleagues. In a formal meeting, it sounds unprofessional and overly negative.
They mean the same thing, but 寒いチャンス has a more slangy, visual, and slightly humorous 'vibe' to it.
In this context, yes. It implies a lack of excitement, warmth, or probability.
It largely comes from the Japanese gambling industry, specifically Pachinko, where machines use 'hot' and 'cold' signals.
It's a combination of geki (extreme) and samui. 激寒 (gekizamu) means something is incredibly lame or hopeless.
It's much more common to use the loanword チャンス (chansu) than the Japanese word 機会 (kikai) with 寒い.
Not if you're joking about a situation. It's only rude if you're using it to mock their genuine efforts.
You should use 望みが薄い (nozomi ga usui), which literally means 'hope is thin.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
望み薄 (nozomi usu) - Slim hope
熱いチャンス (atsui chansu) - Hot/High-probability chance
寒いギャグ (samui gyagu) - A lame/unfunny joke
懐が寒い (futokoro ga samui) - To be broke/short on money
一縷の望み (ichiru no nozomi) - A ray of hope
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