Translation guide
A brief period of rain, often sudden and sometimes heavy. Japanese has several words for rain showers, distinguished by intensity, duration, and season.
A brief, often unexpected rainfall that starts and stops quickly.
The most common and general term for a sudden, short rain shower. Suitable for everyday conversation.
にわか雨が降ってきた。
A rain shower has started.
午後はにわか雨があるでしょう。
There will be rain showers in the afternoon.
Literally 'passing rain', emphasizing that the shower moves through quickly. Often used when the rain is seen coming and going.
さっきの雨は通り雨だったね。
That rain just now was just a passing shower, wasn't it.
A literary or technical term for a sudden downpour or shower. Rare in daily speech.
驟雨が過ぎ去った。
The rain shower passed.
A sudden, strong burst of rain, often with large drops.
Describes a heavy downpour, like a cloudburst. Commonly used in casual speech.
外は土砂降りだ。
It's pouring outside.
土砂降りの中を歩いた。
I walked in the pouring rain.
A general phrase for 'heavy rain', not necessarily a shower but can be used for intense bursts.
激しい雨が急に降り出した。
A heavy rain suddenly started falling.
A brief rain shower that occurs in the evening, especially during summer.
A summer evening shower, often sudden and heavy. A very common seasonal word.
夕立に遭ってずぶ濡れになった。
I got caught in an evening shower and got soaked.
今日は夕立があるかもしれない。
There might be an evening shower today.
Rain falling while the sun is shining, often seen as whimsical.
Literally 'weather rain', meaning rain that falls from a seemingly clear or sunny sky. Often associated with brief showers.
天気雨が降っている。
It's raining while the sun is shining.
にわか雨 is the most general term for a sudden, short shower. 通り雨 emphasizes the passing nature, often used when you see the rain moving. 夕立 specifically refers to a summer evening shower, which can be heavy and is a common seasonal phenomenon.
The English loanword シャワー means a shower (bath) and is not used for rain showers. Use the native Japanese terms above.
A poetic phrase for a sunshower, literally 'fox's wedding'. Used in folklore and literature.
狐の嫁入りだね。
It's a sunshower, isn't it.