Japanese Symbol for
雨ame
rain · rainfall · rainy season
Readings
Meaning
Rain, rainfall. 雨 is a pictographic kanji — the character shows clouds with raindrops falling. Japan has an exceptionally rich vocabulary for different types of rain, reflecting the importance of rainfall in rice-farming culture.
Example words
梅雨
tsuyu
rainy season (plum rain)
春雨
harusame
spring rain / glass noodles
雨宿り
amayadori
taking shelter from rain
小雨
kosame
light rain, drizzle
雨音
amaoto
sound of rain
長雨
nagaame
prolonged rain, continuous rain
Japanese has over 50 words for rain. 梅雨 (tsuyu — rainy season, "plum rain") is a meteorological phenomenon in June-July when the entire country experiences weeks of rain. The Japanese appreciation of rain is evident in 雨音 (amaoto — the sound of rain) being considered soothing and beautiful, not merely inconvenient.
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