大雪

• Reading: おおゆき
• Romaji: ooyuki
• Kanji breakdown: 大 (oo/dai) — great, large | 雪 (yuki/setsu) — snow
• Pronunciation: /oː.jɯ.ki/

Meaning

Heavy snow; heavy snowfall. Snowfall significant enough to cause disruption or accumulate substantially.

A compound noun combining 大 (great) and 雪 (snow). Also used as the name of a solar term in the traditional East Asian calendar (around December 7th), one of the 24 seasonal markers. In modern usage, heavy snowfall warnings issued by meteorological agencies use this term. Distinct from 小雪 (light snow) in both intensity and cultural significance.

Examples

1. 山間部では大雪が続き、集落が一時的に孤立した。 Heavy snow continued in the mountain villages, temporarily isolating some settlements.
2. 大雪の翌朝、子どもたちが庭に出て雪だるまを作り始めた。 The morning after the heavy snowfall, the children ran out into the garden and started building a snowman.
3. 天気予報によると、明日の午後から大雪になる見込みだ。 According to the weather forecast, heavy snow is expected from tomorrow afternoon.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, disaster reporting, seasonal terms, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (oo/dai, 'great, large') and 雪 (yuki, 'snow'). The combination appears in classical texts to describe exceptional snowfall events and also names a traditional seasonal period.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal