冷たい

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 冷たい, read つめたい, is an i-adjective meaning physically cold or emotionally coldhearted.
• Basic usage: 水は冷たい describes temperature; 冷たい返事 describes an unsympathetic response.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Low temperature and emotional coldness
  • Water selects literal cold, while a reply and its emotional effect select coldhearted.