時雨

• Reading: しぐれ
• Romaji: shigure
• Kanji breakdown: 時 (ji/toki) — time, season; 雨 (u/ame) — rain
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ɡɯ.ɾe/

Meaning

Drizzle; passing shower; light rain falling intermittently in late autumn or early winter. Evokes a melancholy seasonal atmosphere.

A seasonal word (kigo) in haiku poetry, associated with late autumn and early winter. 時雨 captures the feeling of a brief, unpredictable rainfall that comes and goes, and is often used metaphorically in classical literature to describe fleeting emotions, sadness, or the transience of life. The experience of 時雨 is deeply embedded in Japanese aesthetic sensibility.

Examples

1. 晩秋の時雨が古都の石畳を濡らし、物悲しい景色をつくり出した。 The late-autumn drizzle wet the cobblestones of the ancient capital, creating a quietly sorrowful scene.
2. 時雨に打たれながら、ひとり帰り道を急いだ。 Caught in the passing shower, I hurried home alone.
3. 遠山に時雨雲が広がり、やがて細かい雨が降り始めた。 Shower clouds spread over the distant mountains, and before long a fine rain began to fall.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, seasons, classical literature, poetry

Tone: literary

Origin & History

The word 時雨 appears in classical Japanese literature and poetry since the Heian period. The etymology combines 時 (time, season) and 雨 (rain), suggesting 'seasonal rain' or 'rain of a particular moment.'

Cultural Context

Era: Heian

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal