Translation guide
In Japanese, describing light rain involves choosing words based on intensity, duration, and the feeling it evokes. Common terms range from everyday words like 小雨 to more poetic expressions like 霧雨.
Describing rain that is not heavy, typically with small drops or low intensity.
The most common and neutral word for light rain. Suitable for everyday conversation and writing.
今日は小雨が降っています。
It's drizzling today.
小雨の中を散歩するのが好きです。
I like walking in light rain.
Refers to light rainfall, often used to describe a temporary lull in rain. Slightly more colloquial than 小雨.
雨が小降りになった。
The rain has let up.
Literally 'the rain is weak', a natural way to say the rain is light. Often used in spoken Japanese.
雨が弱いから傘はいらないかも。
The rain is light, so I might not need an umbrella.
Very fine, misty rain that feels almost like fog.
Fine rain like mist. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
山には霧雨が降っていた。
A fine misty rain was falling in the mountains.
Very fine rain, like drizzle. The word ぬか means rice bran, evoking the image of tiny particles.
Literary term for fine rain. Rare in everyday speech.
細雨が静かに降り注ぐ。
Fine rain falls quietly.
A brief, light rain that starts and stops quickly.
A passing shower, usually light and brief. Common in daily conversation.
通り雨だからすぐ止むよ。
It's just a passing shower, so it'll stop soon.
A sudden rain shower, often light but can be heavier. Emphasizes the unexpectedness.
Light rain associated with particular times of year, often with cultural nuances.
Spring rain, typically gentle and light. Evokes a sense of renewal.
春雨が草木を潤す。
Spring rain moistens the plants.
Autumn rain, often light and persistent. Associated with the rainy season in early autumn.
Late autumn or early winter drizzle, often intermittent. Has a poetic, somewhat melancholic feel.
小雨 is the general term for light rain and can be used in any context. 霧雨 specifically refers to very fine, mist-like rain and is more descriptive. Use 小雨 for everyday situations and 霧雨 when you want to emphasize the misty quality.
Instead of a specific word, you can describe light rain by saying 雨が弱い (the rain is weak) or 雨が強くない (the rain is not strong). This is very natural in conversation.
A fine drizzle continued all day.
にわか雨に降られた。
I got caught in a sudden shower.
秋雨がしとしと降る。
Autumn rain falls softly.
The winter drizzle wets the eaves.