How to Say "Snow Storm" in Japanese

吹雪

fubuki[ɸɯ̟bɯ̟kʲi]

The English phrase 'snow storm' is translated into Japanese as 吹雪 (fubuki).

吹雪 refers to a blizzard, a severe snow storm with strong winds and reduced visibility.

What does it mean word for word?

The word 吹雪 is composed of the kanji 吹 (to blow) and 雪 (snow).

In Hokkaido, the term yukibare is used to describe a break in the snow storm.

In the Japanese language, the word 吹雪 is often used to describe the visual effect of cherry blossom petals blowing in the wind, known as sakura fubuki.
The phenomenon of 吹雪 creates the 'snow monsters' of Zao, where wind-blown snow freezes onto trees to form bizarre, giant sculptures.
The kanji used in 吹雪 is a jukujikun reading, meaning the characters were borrowed from Chinese as a block rather than being read as individual sounds.

彼らは激しい雪嵐の中を前進した。
They advanced through the fierce snow storm.
山間部では吹雪が予測されている。
A blizzard is predicted in the mountainous regions.
あの日の吹雪がやんで、今は雪晴れになったよ。
The blizzard from that day has stopped, and now it's become a clear sky after the snow storm.
明日は激しい吹雪が予想されています。
A strong snow storm is expected tomorrow.
昨夜は激しい吹雪でした。
yuube wa hageshii fubuki deshita.
There was a heavy snow storm last night.
吹雪で電車が止まりました。
fubuki de densha ga tomarimashita.
The train stopped due to the snow storm.
明日は吹雪になるそうです。
ashita wa fubuki ni naru sou desu.
I heard it will be a snow storm tomorrow.

Two colleagues are talking about the weather at the office.

結衣 Yui

外はすごい吹雪ですね。
soto wa sugoi fubuki desu ne.
It's a huge snow storm outside, isn't it?
蓮 Ren

はい、とても寒そうです。
hai, totemo samu sou desu.
Yes, it looks very cold.
結衣 Yui

蓮さんは、今日は早く帰りますか？
ren-san wa, kyou wa hayaku kaerimasu ka?
Ren, are you going home early today?
蓮 Ren

はい、吹雪なので早めに帰ります。
hai, fubuki na no de hayame ni kaerimasu.
Yes, I'm going home early because of the snow storm.

Sources

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