Nuance & Usage
雨 is the basic word for rain. It appears in many weather-related compound words: 大雨 (ooame — heavy rain), 小雨 (kosamé — light rain/drizzle), 梅雨 (tsuyu — rainy season in June/July), 雨季 (uki — rainy season). Common phrases: 雨が降る (ame ga furu — it rains), 雨が降っている (it is raining), 雨がやむ (ame ga yamu — the rain stops). Note: Japanese uses 降る (furu — to fall) for precipitation, not just 来る.
Common Mistakes
A common structural mistake: using 雨があります to mean "it is raining" — this is wrong. Use 雨が降っています (it is raining) or 雨です (it's rainy). Also, note the different readings: 雨 (ame) as standalone noun, but in compounds it can be あめ or あ: 雨具 (amagú — rain gear). Don't confuse 雨 (ame) with 飴 (ame — candy) — same pronunciation, different kanji!
Example Sentences (3)
今日は雨が降っています。
きょうはあめがふっています。
It is raining today.
雨の日は家にいるのが好きです。
あめのひはいえにいるのがすきです。
I like staying home on rainy days.
雨が降りそうだから傘を持っていきます。
あめがふりそうだからかさをもっていきます。
It looks like it might rain, so I'll bring an umbrella.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 雨 with 4 different question types.
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