Japanese Expressions for Rain

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Rain holds significant cultural and seasonal importance in Japan, which is why the Japanese language has a rich collection of expressions related to rain. Rain is often used symbolically in literature, art, and everyday life to represent a range of emotions and situations. It can symbolize sadness, introspection, romance, or even a sense of tranquility.

Let’s expand our vocabulary related to rain!

Basic Expressions

NOUNs
雨あめ ame rain
大雨おおあめ ooame heavy rain
小雨こさめ kosame small light rain
にわか雨あめ niwaka ame Sudden rain
虹にじ niji rainbow

SENTENCEs
雨あめが降ふります。It’ll be raining.
雨あめが降ふっています。It’s raining.
雨あめがやみました。The rain stopped.

Seasonal Rain

Spring to Summer
梅雨（つゆ）Rainy Season

Summer
台風（たいふう） Typhoon
ゲリラ豪雨 （ゲリラごうう）Sudden Downpour
天気雨（てんきあめ） or お天気雨（おてんきあめ） Sun Shower
夕立ち（ゆうだち） Evening Shower (normally with Thunder）

Autumn
秋雨（あきさめ）Autumn Rain

Winter
吹雪（ふぶき）snowstorm

How heavy？

１．滝たき のように ふる 　cascading down like a waterfall
２．バケツを ひっくりかえした ように ふる　raining like a bucket tipped over
３．どしゃぶり　pouring rain
４．ザーザーと ふる   raining heavily
５．ジトジトと ふる　rain steadily
６．シトシトと ふる　raining lightly but steadily
７．小雨こさめが ふる　drizzling
８．霧雨きりさめが ふる 　misty

These expressions will help you talk about and understand the unique characteristics of the rainy season in Japan!

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