Samui is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘cold’, explained

What does “samui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “samui” often to mean ‘cold’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “samui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “samui”
  • Example #1: how to say “cold” in Japanese
• Samukunai: the nai form of “samui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not cold” in Japanese
• Samukatta: the ta form of “samui”
  • Example #3: how to say “was cold” in Japanese
• Samukute: the te form of “samui”
  • Example #4: how to say “cold and” in Japanese
• Samukereba: the ba form of “samui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if cold” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “samui”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “samui”.

• samui – 寒い (さむい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective normally to describe cold weather conditions. So, the usage is similar to those of the English adjectives written above.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “cold” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as a noun.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kyou” to make the subject in the sentence.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “samui”. The original meaning of the Japanese sentence is more like “today is very cold”, but it has been translated as “it’s very cold today”. This sounds more natural, I think. Anyway, when we want to describe cold weather conditions in Japanese, “samui” is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “samui” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “samukunai”.

Samukunai: the nai form of “samui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “samukunai”.

• samukunai – 寒くない (さむくない) : the nai form of “samui”, which means ‘not cold’ or ‘not chilly’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “samukunai” consists of the following two parts:

• samuku – 寒く (さむく) : one conjugation of “samui”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “samukunai” is literally the nai form of “samui” and means ‘not cold’ or ‘not chilly’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not cold” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “heya” to say “this room” in Japanese.
• heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

This is a typical usage of “samukunai”. When we want to mean ‘not cold’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Samukatta: the ta form of “samui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “samukatta”.

• samukatta – 寒かった (さむかった) : the ta form of “samui”, which means ‘was cold’, ‘was chilly’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “samukatta” consists of the following two parts:

• samukat – 寒かっ (さむかっ) : one conjugation of “samui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “samukatta” is literally the ta form of “samui” and means ‘was cold’, ‘was chilly’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was cold” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as a noun.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “kinou” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “samukatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “samui”, this ta form is the best option.

Samukute: the te form of “samui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “samukute”.

• samukute – 寒くて (さむくて) : the te form of “samui”, which means ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “samukute” consists of the following two parts:

• samuku – 寒く (さむく) : one conjugation of “samui”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “samukute” is literally the te form of “samui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “samukute” is very useful when we want to use “samui” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “cold and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• yoru – 夜 (よる) : a noun meaning ‘night’ in Japanese.
• kurai – 暗い (くらい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘dark’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “samukute”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kurai”. When we want to use “samui” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful.

Samukereba: the ba form of “samui”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “samukereba”.

• samukereba – 寒ければ (さむければ) : the ba form of “samui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “samukereba” consists of the following two parts:

• samukere – 寒けれ (さむけれ) : one conjugation of “samui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “samukereba” is literally the ba form of “samui”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “samukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if cold” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• uwagi – 上着 (うわぎ) : a noun meaning ‘jacket’, ‘coat’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “uwagi” to make the object in the sentence.
• ki – 着 (き) : one conjugation of the verb, “kiru”, which means ‘to wear’, ‘to put on’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “samukereba”. In this example, it makes the conditional clause which means “if it’s cold” in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cold’, this ba form is a very good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “samui” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• samui – 寒い (さむい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese.
• samukunai – 寒くない (さむくない) : the nai form of “samui”, which means ‘not cold’ or ‘not chilly’ in Japanese.
• samukatta – 寒かった (さむかった) : the ta form of “samui”, which means ‘was cold’, ‘was chilly’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “samui”.
• samukute – 寒くて (さむくて) : the te form of “samui”, which means ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese. When we want to use “samui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful.
• samukereba – 寒ければ (さむければ) : the ba form of “samui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.