冷房

• Reading: れいぼう
• Romaji: reibou
• Kanji breakdown: 冷 (rei/tsu) — cold, cool; 房 (bou/fusa) — room, chamber
• Pronunciation: /ɾeː.boː/

Meaning

Cooling; air conditioning. The system or act of cooling a room.

Functions as a noun and する verb. The opposite of 暖房 (heating). Commonly used in everyday conversation about indoor temperature control. Often seen on train and building signs indicating air-conditioned areas.

Examples

1. 暑いので、冷房をつけてもいいですか。 It's hot — is it okay if I turn on the AC?
2. この部屋は冷房が強すぎて寒いです。 The air conditioning in this room is too strong; it's cold.
3. 電車の中は冷房がきいていて気持ちいい。 The AC on the train feels really nice.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, home life, office

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 冷 (cold, cool) and 房 (room, chamber). Literally 'cooling a room,' directly describing the function of air conditioning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal