雪玉
yukidama[jɯ̟kʲida̠ma̠]
In Japanese, the word for snowball is 雪玉 (yukidama). Wiktionary also lists 雪つぶて (yukitsubute).
Meaning: ball of snow (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 雪玉 | yukidama | [jɯ̟kʲida̠ma̠] (narrow) |
| 雪つぶて | yukitsubute |
The term 雪玉 refers generally to a ball of snow. When you want to describe a situation or an amount that is growing rapidly and uncontrollably, similar to the English concept of 'snowballing', you can use the phrase 雪だるま式に増える. Additionally, the verb phrase 雪合戦をする is used specifically to describe the act of playing at throwing snowballs.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 雪玉 is a compound of 雪, meaning snow and 玉, meaning ball or gem.
Which one should you use?
While 雪玉 refers to a general ball of snow, 雪つぶて is used specifically when referring to a snowball being used as a projectile or a weapon.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
yukidama
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the phrase for a snowball fight, 雪合戦, uses the word 'war' (戦), making it sound much more intense than 'play'.
- While 玉 means 'ball', it is also the word for 'gem' or 'pearl', suggesting a precious roundness in the word 雪玉.
- The phrase 雪だるま式に増える is almost exclusively used for negative things, such as debt or problems, increasing rapidly.
Examples in context
- トムはメアリーに雪玉を投げた。Tom threw a snowball at Mary.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 雪玉 in the context of throwing it.Tatoeba #8593150 by small_snow, translation #2821369 by CK
- 昨晩、子供たちは庭で雪玉を作って遊びました。Last night, the children were playing in the yard, making snowballs.
- 大きな雪玉を作りました。Ookina yukidama o tsukurimashita.I made a large snowball.
- 雪玉をカバンに入れた。Yukidama o kaban ni ireta.I put the snowball in the bag.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two children are playing outside in the snow.
- 大翔 Hiroto大きな雪玉を投げよう！Ookina yukidama o nageyou!Let's throw a large snowball!
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ、大翔くん。Ii yo, Hiroto-kun.Okay, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoほら、雪玉が当たったよ！Hora, yukidama ga atatta yo!Look, the snowball hit you!
- 結衣 Yuiあはは、当たった！Ahaha, atatta!Ahaha, it hit me!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snowball” translations and entries 雪玉, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
