雪が降っている
yuki ga futte iru
The English phrase 'snowing' is translated into Japanese as 雪が降っている (yuki ga futte iru).
This phrase is used to describe the weather when white flakes of frozen water fall from the sky.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yuki (snow), the particle ga (subject marker) and futte iru (is falling).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 雪が降っている describes the ongoing action happening right now. To describe the general phenomenon of snow or to make a future prediction that it will snow, use the dictionary form 雪が降る.
How do you pronounce it?
yuki ga futte iru
Did you know?
- While 雪 means 'snow', Japanese has dozens of specialized words for different types of snowfall, such as 粉雪 for 'powder snow' and 牡丹雪 for 'peony snow' which describes large, fluffy flakes.
- The term 初雪 (hatsuyuki) refers specifically to the 'first snow' of the season, a concept that carries significant cultural excitement and poetic weight in Japan.
- The kanji for 雪 contains the radical for 'rain' 雨, reflecting the linguistic relationship between snow and rain as atmospheric precipitation.
Examples in context
- 常時、雪が降っている。It's constantly snowing.This sentence uses 雪が降っている to describe constant snow.Tatoeba #11634549 by small_snow, translation #9493044 by sundown
- 一日中、雪が降っているね。It's been snowing all day.This sentence uses 雪が降っている to describe snow falling all day.Tatoeba #8647677 by small_snow, translation #6439729 by CK
- いつから雪が降っているんですか。How long has it been snowing?This sentence uses 雪が降っている to ask about the duration of the snowfall.Tatoeba #228998 by bunbuku, translation #66356 by CK
- 今日は雪が降っています。寒いですね。Today it is snowing. It is cold, isn't it.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are looking out the window together.
- 大翔 Hiroto見て！外は雪が降っているよ。Mite! Soto wa yuki ga futte iru yo.Look! It's snowing outside.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。とてもきれいね。Hontō da. Totemo kirei ne.You're right. It's very beautiful.
- 大翔 Hirotoまだ雪が降っているかな？Mada yuki ga futte iru kana?I wonder if it's still snowing.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、どんどん積もっているよ。Un, dondon tsumotte iru yo.Yes, it's piling up quickly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
