雨: the kanji for rain
雨 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means rain. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
雨 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
雨 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ウ (u)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 雨天うてん · uten | rainy weather |
| 雨量うりょう · uryō | amount of rain |
| 降雨こうう · kōu | rainfall |
| 豪雨ごうう · gōu | torrential rain |
あめ (ame)
Kun reading. It becomes same in some words, such as 小雨 (kosame).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 雨あめ · ame | rain |
| 大雨おおあめ · ōame | heavy rain |
| 小雨こさめ · kosame | light rain; drizzle |
あま (ama)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 雨戸あまど · amado | storm shutter |
| 雨雲あまぐも · amagumo | rain cloud |
| 雨具あまぐ · amagu | rain gear |
| 雨宿りあまやどり · amayadori | taking shelter from the rain |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 雨, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 梅雨つゆ · tsuyu | the rainy season |
| 時雨しぐれ · shigure | late autumn shower |
| 五月雨さみだれ · samidare | early summer rain |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 明日は雨が降るそうです。Ashita wa ame ga furu sō desu.I hear it's going to rain tomorrow.
- 雨天の場合は延期します。Uten no baai wa enki shimasu.In case of rain, it will be postponed.
- 梅雨に入りました。Tsuyu ni hairimashita.The rainy season has started.
- 大雨で電車が止まりました。Ōame de densha ga tomarimashita.The trains stopped because of the heavy rain.
- 駅で雨宿りをしました。Eki de amayadori o shimashita.I took shelter from the rain at the station.
- 小雨なので、傘はいりません。Kosame na node, kasa wa irimasen.It's only drizzling, so I don't need an umbrella.
Questions about 雨
How many strokes does 雨 have?
雨 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 雨?
The on readings are u (ウ). The kun readings are ame (あめ), ama (あま).
What is 梅雨?
梅雨 (tsuyu) is the rainy season in early summer. In much of Japan it lasts from about June to July.
What JLPT level is 雨?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Things and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 雨
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.