猛暑

• Reading: もうしょ
• Romaji: mousho
• Kanji breakdown: 猛 (mou) — fierce, ferocious; 暑 (sho) — hot (weather)
• Pronunciation: /moː.ɕo/

Meaning

Fierce heat; heat wave. Extremely hot weather, typically above 35°C.

A noun used to describe dangerously intense summer heat. In Japanese meteorology, 猛暑日 (moushоbi) is officially defined as a day when temperatures reach 35°C or above. Frequently appears in weather reports and news during summer. Often paired with 日 (day) or が続く (continues) to describe prolonged heat waves.

Examples

1. 今年の夏は猛暑が続き、熱中症の患者が増えた。 This summer's heat wave continued, and the number of heat stroke patients increased.
2. 猛暑の中で屋外作業をするのは危険だ。 Doing outdoor work in extreme heat is dangerous.
3. 猛暑日が記録的な数に達している。 The number of days hitting record-breaking heat has reached a historic high.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, news, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 猛 (mou, fierce/ferocious) + 暑 (sho, hot weather). 猛 depicts a fierce dog — applied to heat, it conveys relentless, animal-like intensity.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal