Japanese word

氷河

Pronunciation

Romajihyōga

Meaning

  • nounglacier

Example

その氷河は毎年少しずつ後退しています。so no hyō ga wa mai toshi suko shi zu tsu kō tai shi te i ma su

That glacier is retreating little by little each year.

Illustration for 氷河 (glacier)

More examples

温暖化で氷河が急速に縮小しています。on dan ka de hyō ga ga kyū soku ni shuku shō shi te i ma su

Glaciers are shrinking rapidly because of global warming.

Core concept

A glacier is a huge body of ice that slowly flows under its own weight.

Common phrases

  • 氷河の後退hyō ga no kō tai

    glacier retreat

  • 氷河の融解hyō ga no yū kai

    glacier melting

  • 氷河を調査するhyō ga o chō sa su ru

    study a glacier

Definition in Japanese

山地などで、積もった雪が長年凍り固まり、重力によってゆっくり流れ下る巨大な氷の塊。san chi na do de tsu mo tta yuki ga naga nen kō ri kata ma ri jū ryoku ni yo tte yu kku ri naga re kuda ru kyo dai na kōri no katamari

Word origin

氷河 (hyōga, "glacier") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 氷 (hyō, "ice") and 河 (ga, "river"), describing ice that flows like a river.

Usage tips

  • A glacier is land-based ice that moves slowly, whereas an iceberg is a piece of ice that has broken off and floats in water.

Word lists with this word