chilly

/ˈtʃɪli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtʃɪli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈchi-lē/ (ame, mw)

chilly — adjective

  • chillypositive
  • chilliercomparative
  • chilliestsuperlative

1. cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable — used especially for weather, indoor

1.形容詞C1
釋義

cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable — used especially for weather, indoor spaces, or the temperature of wind and water. Cooler than just 'cool' but not as extreme as 'freezing'.

例句

The morning air felt chilly, so Aiko grabbed her coat before leaving.

collocation: feel + chilly

It was a chilly autumn day, and the children wore scarves to school.

同義詞
  • cold

    broader and more general; 'cold' covers a wider temperature range than 'chilly'

  • cool

    less intense than 'chilly'; 'cool' can be pleasant, whereas 'chilly' is often uncomfortable

  • crisp

    fresh and pleasantly cold, usually of air or weather; has a positive connotation

  • nippy

    informal British term for cold in a sharp, biting way

反義詞
  • warm

    pleasantly high in temperature

  • mild

    not cold; moderate in temperature

用法筆記

Frequently modifies weather nouns (morning, day, wind, air) and room descriptors. Can also describe a person's physical sensation of feeling cold, typically in 'feel chilly' or 'get chilly'.

常見錯誤

❌The soup tastes chilly.
✅The soup is cold.
💡'chilly' is used for weather, air, or rooms, not for food or drinks.
❌I am chilly today' (to mean having a fever).
✅I feel chilly because I forgot my jacket.
💡'chilly' describes a mild sensation of cold from the environment, not illness.

2. showing a lack of warmth or friendliness in the way you behave toward other peop

2.形容詞B2
釋義

showing a lack of warmth or friendliness in the way you behave toward other people — for example, a look, a tone of voice, a welcome, or the general mood in a room.

例句

The manager gave Leila a chilly look when she asked for a day off.

collocation: chilly look

Priya received a chilly welcome from her new classmates on the first day.

collocation: chilly welcome

同義詞
  • cold

    broader and more common; can describe both temperature and unfriendliness

  • cool

    less intense; suggests polite distance rather than open unfriendliness

  • frosty

    stronger than 'chilly'; suggests icy silence or deliberate coldness

  • distant

    focuses on emotional remoteness rather than a specific unfriendly action

反義詞
  • warm

    friendly and kind in manner

  • welcoming

    showing warmth and openness to others

用法筆記

Typically collocates with nouns describing reception, atmosphere, or expression (welcome, look, tone, response, atmosphere) rather than describing a person's fixed personality type. 'A chilly person' is possible but far less common than 'a chilly reception'.

常見錯誤

❌My teacher is a chilly woman.
✅My teacher gave me a chilly look when I was late.
💡'chilly' more naturally describes a specific reaction or atmosphere than a person's character.
❌He felt chilly about the idea.
✅His response to the idea was chilly.
💡use 'chilly' for the outward reaction, not the inner feeling of disapproval.