小雨

Japanese

Kanji in this term
小	雨

Etymology

Compound of ko (“small, light, slight”) and same (“rain”). The medial -s- either represents epenthesis between two vowels or, more likely, is a reflex of an older form of the word ame (“rain”) only maintained in fossilized compounds. See also harusame (“spring rain”) and shine (“rice”).

Noun

小雨 (hiragana こさめ, romaji kosame)

1. light rain, drizzle
   • 931-938: Wamyō Ruijushō (book 1 page 24)

     霡霂 兼名苑云、細雨一名霡霂、小雨也、麥木二音、已上本注、和名古佐女

Antonyms

• 大雨 (おおあめ, ōame, “downpour”).

Compounds

• 晴一時小雨 (hare ichiji kosame): clear, with brief light rain
• 小雨決行 (shōu kekkō): canceled only in case of heavy rain

References

• 1968 May 19 [931-938], Shitagō Minamoto; Kyōto Daigaku Bungakubu Kokugogaku Kokubungaku Kenkyūshitu, Shohon Shūsei Wamyō Ruijushō: Honbunhen (in Japanese), Kyōto: Rinsen, ISBN 4-653-00507-9:

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Mandarin

simpl. and trad.
小雨

Noun

小雨 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin xiǎoyǔ)

1. light rain

Antonyms

• 大雨