Japanese word

時雨

Pronunciation

Romajishigure

Meaning

  • nounlate-autumn shower

Example

午後は時雨が降るそうです。go go wa shigure ga fu ru sō de su

I hear there will be a late-autumn shower this afternoon.

Illustration for 時雨 (late-autumn shower)

More examples

山道で時雨に濡れました。san dō de shigure ni nu re ma shi ta

I got wet in a late-autumn shower on a mountain path.

Core concept

Refers to rain that falls intermittently in the cool season from late autumn into early winter.

Common phrases

  • 時雨に濡れるshigure ni nu re ru

    get wet in a late-autumn shower

  • 時雨の音shigure no oto

    sound of a late-autumn shower

Similar words

通り雨tōriame: A brief shower that passes quickly without implying a particular season.
俄雨niwakaame: A sudden shower that begins unexpectedly and usually ends soon.

Definition in Japanese

晩秋から初冬に、降ったりやんだりする雨。ban shū ka ra sho tō ni fu tta ri ya n da ri su ru ame

Word origin

The noun 時雨 (shigure, "late-autumn shower") is related to the native Japanese verb 時雨る (shigureru, "to rain intermittently"), while its deeper origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The word 時雨 (shigure) often appears in Japanese poems as a seasonal marker, linking a short shower with the transition from autumn to winter.

Related words

  • 時雨れるshigurerushower intermittentlyverb

Word lists with this word