雪の結晶
yuki no kesshō
The English word snowflake is translated into Japanese as 雪の結晶 (yuki no kesshō). Wiktionary also lists 雪花 (sekka) and 雪片 (seppen).
Meaning: crystal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 雪の結晶 | yuki no kesshō |
| 雪花 | sekka |
| 雪片 | seppen |
雪の結晶 is the most natural term to use when you are discussing the scientific or physical structure of a snowflake.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 雪の結晶 is composed of 雪 (snow), the possessive particle の and 結晶 (crystal), literally meaning "snow's crystal".
Which one should you use?
雪の結晶 is the standard, descriptive way to say snowflake. In contrast, 雪花 is a more poetic or literary term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
雪花 is used primarily in literature, poetry or highly stylized writing rather than everyday conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
yuki no kesshō
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'snowflake', which can sometimes be used as a slang insult for a person, the Japanese terms for snowflake carry no such derogatory connotation.
- In traditional Japanese aesthetics, the fleeting nature of a 雪花 is used as a metaphor for 'mono no aware', the bittersweet realization that beauty is precious because it is temporary.
- In some historical Japanese texts, 雪花 was used to describe the white blossoms of certain plum trees that bloom in winter, blurring the line between actual snow and flowers.
Examples in context
- 彼女は紙で雪の結晶を作った。She made a paper snowflake.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe making a paper version of the word 雪の結晶.Tatoeba #8613818 by small_snow, translation #2324070 by Hybrid
- そして雪の結晶が一つ、夜の空から舞い降りた。Then, a lone snowflake floated down from the night sky.This sentence is useful for seeing the word 雪の結晶 used in a descriptive, natural context.Tatoeba #8701454 by chanchan, translation #8699031 by chanchan
- 顕微鏡で雪の結晶を観察した。Kenbikyou de yuki no kesshou o kansatsu shita.I observed the snowflake under a microscope.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are looking at a science book together.
- 健太 Kentaこの雪の結晶、すごくきれいだね。Kono yuki no kesshou, sugoku kirei da ne.This snowflake is really beautiful, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misaki本当。形がとても複雑だわ。Hontou. Katachi ga totemo fukuzatsu da wa.It really is. The shape is so complex.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、もっと近くで見たい？Misaki, motto chikaku de mitai?Misaki, do you want to see it closer?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、ぜひ見せて！Un, zehi misete!Yes, please show me!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snowflake” translations and entries 雪花, 雪片, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
