冬

• Reading: ふゆ
• Romaji: fuyu
• Kanji breakdown: 冬 (tou/fuyu) — winter
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.jɯ/

Meaning

Winter; wintertime. The cold season from December to February in Japan.

One of the four seasons. Winter in Japan brings cold weather, hot springs (温泉), and New Year celebrations (お正月). Northern regions like Hokkaido receive heavy snow, making them popular for skiing. Can be used adverbially in expressions like 冬に (in winter).

Examples

1. 冬になると雪が降ります。 When winter comes, it snows.
2. 冬は温泉に入りたいです。 In winter, I want to go to a hot spring.
3. 今年の冬はとても寒いです。 This winter is very cold.

Usage Guide

Context: seasons, weather, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A native Japanese word (wago) from Old Japanese. The kanji 冬 depicts ice crystals or a frozen knot, representing the coldest time of year.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal