豪雨

• Reading: ごうう
• Romaji: gouu
• Kanji breakdown: 豪 (gou) — powerful, magnificent, grand; 雨 (u) — rain
• Pronunciation: /ɡoː.ɯ/

Meaning

Torrential rain; heavy rain; downpour. Extremely heavy rainfall, often causing damage.

A noun describing rainfall far heavier than ordinary rain. More severe than 大雨 (ooame, heavy rain) — 豪雨 implies destructive intensity that can cause flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. Frequently seen in news reports, especially during Japan's rainy season (梅雨) and typhoon season. Common compounds include 集中豪雨 (shuuchuu gouu, localised torrential rain) and 豪雨災害 (gouu saigai, heavy rain disaster).

Examples

1. 昨夜の豪雨で道路が冠水した。 Last night's torrential rain flooded the roads.
2. 突然の豪雨に見舞われて、ずぶ濡れになった。 We were caught in a sudden downpour and got completely soaked.
3. 豪雨による土砂崩れで交通が遮断された。 A landslide triggered by the heavy rain cut off traffic.

Usage Guide

Context: news, weather, disaster preparedness

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 豪 (gou, powerful/magnificent) + 雨 (u, rain). Literally 'powerful rain' — rainfall of overwhelming intensity.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal