吹雪

• Reading: ふぶき
• Romaji: fubuki
• Kanji breakdown: 吹 (fuki/sui) — blow; 雪 (yuki/setsu) — snow
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.bɯ.ki/

Meaning

Blizzard; snowstorm. A severe weather condition characterised by heavy snowfall combined with strong winds that dramatically reduce visibility.

A native Japanese compound combining 吹く (to blow) and 雪 (snow). Unlike 大雪 which simply means heavy snowfall, 吹雪 emphasises the wind-driven, disorienting quality of the storm — visibility can drop to near zero, making navigation hazardous. In Hokkaido and northern Honshu, 吹雪 is a common winter phenomenon that regularly disrupts transport and poses life-threatening risks to those outdoors.

Examples

1. 猛烈な吹雪で視界がゼロになり、登山パーティーは山小屋に緊急避難した。 Visibility dropped to zero in the fierce blizzard, forcing the climbing party to take emergency shelter in a mountain hut.
2. 吹雪の中を帰宅しようとして道に迷い、救助を求めた高齢者が保護された。 An elderly person who got lost trying to walk home through the blizzard was rescued after calling for help.
3. 北海道の冬は吹雪が激しく、交通機関が麻痺することも珍しくない。 Winters in Hokkaido bring violent blizzards, and transport disruption is not uncommon.

Usage Guide

Context: winter weather, mountain safety, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Native Japanese compound. 吹 comes from 吹く (fuku, to blow), and 雪 means snow (yuki). The combination vividly captures snow being driven horizontally by wind.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal