氷河
hyōga[ço̞ːɡa̠]
The Japanese word for glacier is 氷河 (hyōga).
氷河 refers to a large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill.
Meaning: a large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 氷 (ice) and 河 (river), literally meaning 'ice river'.
How do you pronounce it?
hyōga
Did you know?
- Because Japan is a volcanic archipelago, the presence of a true 氷河 is a subject of intense scientific debate among Japanese geologists.
- The word 氷 (hyō) is a more formal, Sino-Japanese reading than the common word for ice, こおり (koori), which is why it fits a scientific term.
- The kanji 河 used in 氷河 typically refers to a large river, whereas the more common kanji for river, 川, is used for smaller streams.
Examples in context
- グリーンランドには美しい氷河がたくさんあります。Greenland has many beautiful glaciers.
- 北極の氷河はとても大きいです。The glaciers in the Arctic are very big.
- あの氷河はとても大きいです。Ano hyouga wa totemo ookii desu.That glacier is very large.
- 氷河が溶けて海に流れ込んでいます。Hyouga ga tokete umi ni nagerekonde imasu.The glacier is melting and flowing into the sea.
- 氷河の近くを散策しました。Hyouga no chikaku o sansaku shimashita.I strolled near the glacier.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- 健太 Kentaこの氷河は本当に美しいですね。Kono hyouga wa hontou ni utsukushii desu ne.This glacier is truly beautiful, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても迫力がありますね。Hai, totemo hakuryoku ga arimasu ne.Yes, it's very powerful.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんは氷河を見たことがありますか？Himari-san wa hyouga o mita koto ga arimasu ka?Have you ever seen a glacier, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、一度もありません。Iie, ichido mo arimasen.No, never.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glacier” translations and entries 氷河, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
