Translation guide
The English word "deluge" can refer to a heavy downpour of rain, a flood, or a figurative overwhelming amount of something. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Describing a sudden, intense rainfall
Standard term for torrential rain or heavy downpour, often used in weather reports.
Referring to a large amount of water covering land
Describing a large quantity of things, like information, requests, etc.
豪雨 (gōu) is the formal term for torrential rain, often used in weather warnings. 大雨 (ōame) is a general term for heavy rain. 土砂降り (doshaburi) is a colloquial, vivid expression for a downpour, similar to 'pouring rain'.
Avoid directly translating 'deluge' as a single Japanese word in all contexts. Use the appropriate term based on whether you mean heavy rain, a flood, or a figurative flood.
昨夜、豪雨で道路が冠水した。
Last night, the roads were flooded due to a deluge.
Colloquial term for a heavy downpour, like 'pouring rain'.
外は土砂降りだから、傘を持って行った方がいいよ。
It's a deluge outside, so you'd better take an umbrella.
General term for heavy rain; less intense than 豪雨 but very common.
明日は大雨になるでしょう。
There will be a deluge tomorrow.
Refers to localized torrential downpours, often causing flash floods. Used in news.
集中豪雨により、河川が氾濫した。
A localized deluge caused the river to overflow.
The most common word for flood or inundation.
その地域は洪水の被害を受けた。
The area suffered damage from the deluge.
Literally 'big water', a slightly less formal term for flood.
川が大水で溢れた。
The river overflowed in the deluge.
Overflowing of rivers, often used in compound with 洪水 (洪水氾濫).
豪雨で川が氾濫した。
The river flooded due to the deluge.
Used for a rush or flood of people, inquiries, etc. Often as ～が殺到する.
新製品に注文が殺到した。
Orders deluged the new product.
Literally 'like a flood', used metaphorically for an overwhelming amount.
洪水のような批判を受けた。
They received a deluge of criticism.
Literally 'mountain-like', meaning a huge pile or amount.
机の上に山のような書類がある。
There's a deluge of paperwork on the desk.
To surge or flood in, used for crowds, waves, or large amounts.
抗議の声が押し寄せた。
A deluge of protests poured in.