Japanese Word for

yuki

snow · white · winter

Readings

  • ONセツsetsu
  • KUNゆきyuki

Meaning

Snow. 雪 (yuki) is also a beloved Japanese given name, often written in hiragana (ゆき) or the kanji 雪. The character combines 雨 (rain) with a component meaning "to sweep/wipe" — snow as rain that sweeps down.

雪景色

yukigeshiki

snowy landscape

大雪

ōyuki

heavy snow

雪だるま

yukidaruma

snowman (snow dharma)

初雪

hatsuyuki

first snow of the season

雪女

yuki-onna

snow woman (Japanese spirit)

吹雪

fubuki

snowstorm, blizzard

雪女 (yuki-onna — snow woman) is one of Japan's most famous yokai — a beautiful woman who appears to travelers in blizzards. Japan's heavy snowfall regions (especially Hokkaido and Niigata) have rich winter folk traditions. 初雪 (hatsuyuki — first snow) is celebrated similarly to 初日の出 (hatsuhinode — the first sunrise of the new year).

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