nước lạnh
Definition
Noun:
- Cold water: Water that is at a low temperature, typically not heated. It is the direct and most common meaning.
- Tap water (in specific contexts): In everyday Vietnamese, "nước lạnh" can refer to the cold water supply from a tap, as opposed to "nước nóng" (hot water).
Noun (figurative usage):
- A cold or indifferent attitude: Used metaphorically to describe a cold, unwelcoming, or indifferent reception or demeanor.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Tôi thích uống nước lạnh. (I like to drink cold water.)
- Vặn vòi nước lạnh sang bên trái. (Turn the cold water tap to the left.)
- Anh ấy đối xử với mọi người bằng thái độ nước lạnh. (He treats everyone with a cold attitude.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in contrast to "nước nóng" (hot water) when describing plumbing systems or beverage preferences.
- In the dialectal usage noted in the reference ("nước lã"), it emphasizes plain, unboiled, or room-temperature water.
Variants and Related Words
- Nước đá (n): Ice water or water with ice.
- Cho tôi một ly nước đá. (Give me a glass of ice water.)
- Nước mát (n): Cool water; often refers to refreshing drinks or cool water.
- Nước nguội (n): Water that has cooled down from being hot; or colloquially, plain water.
Synonyms
- Cold water: The direct translation.
- Chilled water: Emphasizes water that has been deliberately cooled.
- Tap water (cold): Specifically for water from the cold tap.
Related Idioms and Expressions
- Giội gáo nước lạnh: To pour cold water on something; to discourage or dampen enthusiasm.
- Lời phê bình của anh ấy như giội gáo nước lạnh vào kế hoạch của chúng tôi. (His criticism was like pouring cold water on our plans.)
- Lạnh như tiền nước lạnh: As cold as cold water money; describing something very cold or a very cold, transactional relationship.