寒い夜
cold night
Literally: cold (samui) + night (yoru)
Use it to talk about chilly evening weather or to set a cozy, wintery scene.
In 15 Seconds
- Describes air temperature at night during winter or autumn.
- Used for weather small talk and setting a cozy mood.
- Pair it with 'desu ne' for a polite, friendly observation.
Meaning
It's a simple, cozy way to describe those evenings when the air turns crisp and you find yourself reaching for a thick blanket or a hot cup of tea.
Key Examples
3 of 6Texting a friend on a winter evening
寒い夜だね。温かくして寝てね。
It's a cold night. Stay warm and get some sleep.
Talking to a neighbor at the apartment entrance
今夜は本当に寒い夜ですね。
It really is a cold night tonight, isn't it?
Posting a photo of ramen on social media
寒い夜には、やっぱりラーメン！
On a cold night, it has to be ramen!
Cultural Background
In Japan, cold nights are the prime time for 'nabe' (hot pot) parties and 'kotatsu' culture. The phrase often carries a sense of 'nostalgic warmth' because it implies seeking shelter and comfort with loved ones. It is a frequent theme in Enka music and winter poetry.
The 'Desu Ne' Magic
Always add `ですね` (desu ne) when talking to strangers. It invites them to agree with you, which is the golden rule of Japanese small talk.
Don't touch the ice!
Remember, if you touch a cold window, say `冷たい` (tsumetai). If you just feel the air in the room, say `寒い` (samui).
In 15 Seconds
- Describes air temperature at night during winter or autumn.
- Used for weather small talk and setting a cozy mood.
- Pair it with 'desu ne' for a polite, friendly observation.
What It Means
寒い夜 is a straightforward combination of the adjective 寒い (cold) and the noun 夜 (night). It specifically refers to the air temperature being chilly or freezing once the sun goes down. In Japanese, we use different words for 'cold' depending on what we are touching or feeling. 寒い is strictly for the atmosphere or weather. If you are holding a cold beer, you wouldn't use this! You use this phrase when you feel the nip in the air as you walk home from the station or look out the window at the frost.
How To Use It
You can use it as a standalone observation or as part of a longer sentence. Usually, you'll see it followed by particles like は (wa) to make it the topic, or に (ni) to say 'on a cold night.' It’s a very common way to start a conversation about the weather. You might say 寒い夜ですね (It's a cold night, isn't it?) to a neighbor. It’s also a classic opening for stories or songs. It sets a mood instantly—usually one of seeking warmth, comfort, or maybe a little bit of loneliness.
When To Use It
Use this during late autumn, winter, or early spring. It’s perfect for small talk at a bus stop or when you're texting a friend to stay warm. If you're at a restaurant and the door opens letting in a draft, you might mutter this to yourself. It’s also great for social media captions when you're posting a photo of a steaming bowl of ramen or a cozy fireplace. Basically, if you feel like you need a scarf, it's a 寒い夜.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use 寒い to describe a cold drink or a cold surface; use 冷たい (tsumetai) for that. Also, avoid using this if the sun is still up! For a cold day, you’d say 寒い日 (samui hi). In a business meeting, it might be a bit too casual to just say 寒い夜 without adding formal endings like ですね (desu ne). Also, if someone tells a really bad joke that makes the room go silent, Japanese people sometimes say 寒い (cold/lame), but they wouldn't usually call it a 寒い夜 unless the joke was truly legendary in its badness.
Cultural Background
In Japan, 寒い夜 is deeply tied to the concept of 'danran' (family gathering). It evokes images of sitting around a kotatsu (a low, heated table with a quilt) and eating mikan (mandarin oranges). There is a famous song called 'Kanda Kanda' that mentions cold nights, and it’s a staple of winter nostalgia. It’s also the peak season for nabe (hot pot) culture. When the nights get cold, the sales of hot canned coffee from vending machines skyrocket. It's a communal experience of enduring the chill together.
Common Variations
You’ll often hear 寒い夜には (On cold nights...) followed by a suggestion, like 'hot sake is best.' Another common one is 冷え込む夜 (hiekomu yoru), which sounds a bit more poetic and means a night where the cold really 'sinks in.' If it’s exceptionally cold, you might hear 極寒の夜 (gokkan no yoru) meaning a 'polar cold night,' though that’s usually reserved for Hokkaido or the middle of a blizzard. For most of us, the simple 寒い夜 does the trick perfectly.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral collocation suitable for all levels of formality depending on the sentence ending. Remember to use 'samui' for air and 'tsumetai' for objects.
The 'Desu Ne' Magic
Always add `ですね` (desu ne) when talking to strangers. It invites them to agree with you, which is the golden rule of Japanese small talk.
Don't touch the ice!
Remember, if you touch a cold window, say `冷たい` (tsumetai). If you just feel the air in the room, say `寒い` (samui).
The Kotatsu Trap
On a `寒い夜`, many Japanese people 'fall asleep' in the kotatsu. It's a common trope, but be warned: it's said to lead to catching a cold!
Examples
6寒い夜だね。温かくして寝てね。
It's a cold night. Stay warm and get some sleep.
A very common, caring way to end a conversation with a friend.
今夜は本当に寒い夜ですね。
It really is a cold night tonight, isn't it?
Adding 'desu ne' makes this a perfect polite icebreaker.
寒い夜には、やっぱりラーメン！
On a cold night, it has to be ramen!
The particle 'ni wa' sets the condition for the best choice.
寒い夜、うちの猫は湯たんぽになります。
On cold nights, my cat becomes a hot water bottle.
Uses the phrase to set up a cute/funny relatable moment.
寒い夜は、君に会いたくなる。
On cold nights, I find myself wanting to see you.
The cold serves as a contrast to the warmth of a person.
寒い夜道を一人で歩く。
Walking alone on a cold night road.
Combining 'yoru' and 'michi' (road) creates a more descriptive scene.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to say 'It's a cold night, isn't it?' politely.
寒い___ですね。
`夜` (yoru) means night, which completes the phrase for a cold evening.
Choose the correct adjective for air temperature.
___夜にはお鍋を食べましょう。
`寒い` is used for air/weather temperature, while `冷たい` is for touchable objects.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Samui yoru'
Used with friends or family.
寒い夜だね (Samui yoru da ne)
Standard observation for anyone.
寒い夜ですね (Samui yoru desu ne)
Used in polite writing or news.
寒い夜でございます (Samui yoru de gozaimasu)
When to say 'Samui yoru'
Small talk with neighbors
Greeting while shivering
Texting loved ones
Take care of yourself
Social Media
Caption for hot food
Song lyrics
Setting a lonely mood
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 寒い implies it's uncomfortably cold. For a pleasant cool night in summer, use 涼しい夜 (suzushii yoru).
夜 (yoru) is the general word for night. 晩 (ban) is often used for 'evening.' You can say 寒い晩 (samui ban), but 寒い夜 is more common for the late hours.
Yes, but be careful! Calling a person 寒い means their jokes are lame or they are acting 'uncool.' It doesn't mean they are physically cold.
You would say 寒くなってきました (samuku natte kimashita). This is very common as the sun sets on a 寒い夜.
Yes, as a seasonal greeting! You might start with 寒い夜が続いておりますが... (Cold nights are continuing, but [I hope you are well]).
That would be 暑い夜 (atsui yoru), meaning a hot night, typical of the humid Japanese summer.
The phrase is the same, but their definition of 'samui' is much more extreme! They might use しばれる (shibareru) in local dialect for a freezing night.
Yes, if you add ですね (desu ne). It's a safe, neutral topic for elevator small talk.
In Japanese, adjectives like 寒い always come before the noun they describe, just like in English.
You could say 冬夜 (touya), which literally means 'winter night,' often used in literature and haiku.
Related Phrases
冷え込む
To get chilled / to get colder (verb)
冬の夜
Winter night
肌寒い
Chilly / biting cold
熱帯夜
A tropical (unbearably hot) night
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free