凍結（とうけつ、touketsu）
- freezing

The Japanese word 凍結 凍結 (とうけつ - touketsu) primarily means "freezing" or "being frozen," but it can extend to other metaphorical applications. It refers to the process of becoming solid due to a drop in temperature, much like water turning into ice. However, 凍結 凍結 also describes the act of suspending or halting something, whether it be physical, financial, or conceptual. This suspension can be temporary or permanent depending on the context. The core idea involves a cessation of movement, change, or activity.

⚫︎ 水が凍結する。 Translation: The water freezes. ⚫︎ 口座が凍結されました。 Translation: The account was frozen. ⚫︎ 計画は一時的に凍結された。 Translation: The plan was temporarily frozen.

凍結 凍結 is used in various contexts, including: ⚫︎ Describing the freezing of liquids, such as water or blood. ⚫︎ Referring to the suspension of activities, like projects or programs. ⚫︎ Used in financial contexts to describe frozen bank accounts or assets. ⚫︎ In medical context. For example, 凍結保存means cryopreservation. ⚫︎ The word is appropriate in both formal and informal settings, depending on the subject matter and the intended audience. For instance, you might use it in a formal business meeting when discussing the 凍結 凍結 of a project. However, it can also be used in casual conversation to explain that a pipe has frozen.

⚫︎ The standard written form is 凍結 凍結 using kanji. ⚫︎ The reading is always とうけつ (touketsu) in hiragana. ⚫︎ The kanji 凍 (tou) means "freeze," and 結 (ketsu) means "to bind" or "to unite". ⚫︎ There is no variation in the okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 冷凍 (reitou) - freezing (in a freezer) ⚫︎ 固まる (katamaru) - to solidify, to harden (can be used in more general contexts) ⚫︎ 停止 (teishi) - suspension, stoppage (more general, including of actions or processes) ⚫︎ 中断 (chuudan) - interruption, suspension (similar to 停止, but may imply a temporary nature) ⚫︎ 閉鎖 (heisa) - closure (of a business, etc. - in some contexts could be used similarly)

⚫︎ 解凍 (kaitou) - thawing, defrosting (opposite of freezing) ⚫︎ 開始 (kaishi) - start, commencement (opposite of suspending or halting something) ⚫︎ 再開 (saikai) - reopening, resumption (opposite of suspending or halting something) ⚫︎ 発展 (hatten) - development, progress (opposite of suspending)

冬の寒さで水道管が凍結してしまった。 ・Translation: The water pipes froze due to the cold of winter. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the physical freezing of the water pipes due to low temperatures.

そのプロジェクトは資金不足のため、一時的に凍結されました。 ・Translation: That project was temporarily frozen due to a lack of funds. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that the project has been put on hold because of financial problems. It uses 凍結 凍結 in a metaphorical sense to describe halting the project.

The word 凍結 凍結 is formed from the kanji 凍 (tou), meaning "freeze," and 結 (ketsu), which means "to bind," "to unite," or, in this context, "to become fixed". The combination thus conveys the idea of something becoming solid or fixed, as when freezing. The etymology reflects the fundamental concept of something being solidified or suspended.