霜

• Reading: しも
• Romaji: shimo
• Kanji breakdown: 霜 (shimo/sou) — frost
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.mo/

Meaning

Frost. The thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces in cold weather.

A noun referring to the natural phenomenon of frost forming on the ground, plants, and other surfaces during cold mornings. Commonly appears in seasonal vocabulary and weather reports. Also used in the traditional calendar term 霜月 (shimotsuki, the eleventh month). Associated with late autumn and early winter.

Examples

1. 今朝は霜が降りてとても寒かった。 There was frost this morning and it was really cold.
2. 庭の草に白い霜がついていた。 The grass in the yard was covered in white frost.
3. 霜が降りる前に野菜を収穫しよう。 Let's harvest the vegetables before the frost sets in.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, agriculture, seasonal

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

The kanji 霜 combines the rain radical 雨 with 相 (mutual, each other), suggesting moisture from the sky that settles on surfaces.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal