冷静

• Reading: れいせい
• Romaji: reisei
• Kanji breakdown: 冷 (rei) — cool, cold; 静 (sei) — quiet, calm, still
• Pronunciation: /ɾeː.seː/

Meaning

Calm; composed; cool-headed. Maintaining emotional control under pressure.

Functions as a noun and na-adjective (冷静な). Describes the ability to stay rational and controlled in stressful or emotional situations. 冷静になる means to calm down, and 冷静に考える means to think calmly. Highly valued in Japanese conflict resolution.

Examples

1. 冷静に考えれば、答えが見つかるはずだ。 If you think about it calmly, you should be able to find the answer.
2. 彼女はいつも冷静で判断力がある。 She's always composed and has good judgment.
3. 怒っている時こそ冷静になるべきだ。 Especially when you're angry, you should try to stay calm.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, workplace, emergencies

Tone: measured

Origin & History

Compound of 冷 (rei, cool/cold) and 静 (sei, quiet/calm). Together they express a cool quietness — the composed state of a mind that is neither heated by emotion nor disturbed by chaos.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal