寒い経験

You usually pair this phrase with the verb shita (did/had). For example, samui keiken o shita means 'I had a cold experience.' You can add adverbs like totemo (very) to emphasize the chill. Use it when telling stories about travel or winter. It is a great way to start a conversation about hardships. If you use it for social situations, keep it light. It sounds a bit more dramatic than just saying the weather was bad. It implies the coldness left a lasting impression on you.

Use it when you are reminiscing about a snowy vacation. It is perfect for describing a time you were unprepared for weather. You might use it at a cafe with friends. Or use it when texting someone about a failed date. If your boss tells a pun that makes everyone stare at their shoes, that is a samui keiken. It fits well in blogs or social media posts about winter survival. It is also useful in job interviews to describe overcoming physical challenges. Just make sure you actually felt the chill!

Do not use this for cold objects like ice cream. For things you touch, use tsumetai instead. This phrase is for the environment or the overall 'vibe.' Avoid using it for 'cold-hearted' people. That is also tsumetai hito. If you are just a little bit chilly, it might be too strong. It implies a significant or memorable event. Do not use it in very formal business reports about temperature. In those cases, use technical terms like teion (low temperature). Also, do not use it if the 'cold' was actually pleasant.

Japan has four distinct seasons and a deep respect for winter. The concept of samui jokes (dad jokes) is a huge part of comedy. These are called oyaji gyagu. When a joke fails, the 'air' in the room is said to freeze. This is why a 'cold experience' can be social. Japanese culture values 'reading the air' (kuuki o yomu). A samui keiken often means the social harmony was temporarily frozen. It is a relatable part of the shared Japanese social struggle.

You will often hear samui omoi (cold feelings/thoughts). This is slightly more common for physical suffering in the cold. You might also see gokkan no keiken for 'extreme cold experience.' If you want to be more casual, just say samui omoi o shita. For a truly freezing time, some people use itai hodo samui (painfully cold). These variations help you specify exactly how much you were shivering.