Meaning and Usage
냉수 specifically refers to cold water, often used in everyday conversation when talking about drinking water that is chilled or cool. It is a common noun and is neutral in formality, suitable for both casual and polite contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 냉수 in situations involving refreshment, such as after exercise, during hot weather, or when requesting a drink at a restaurant or home.
Collocations and Patterns
- 냉수를 마시다: to drink cold water; used when talking about quenching thirst or cooling down.
- 냉수를 한 잔: a glass of cold water; a common way to order or request.
- 냉수로 씻다: to wash with cold water; used in contexts of cleaning or refreshing.
Usage Tips
When using 냉수, it implies the water is noticeably cold, often from a refrigerator or with ice. It is different from 그냥 물 (plain water) which may be room temperature. Learners sometimes confuse 냉수 with 얼음물 (ice water), but 얼음물 specifically contains ice cubes, while 냉수 may just be chilled water without ice.
Using 냉수 in polite requests like "냉수를 주세요" is very natural and common in Korean daily life.