Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
Rain + hand variant
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of rain and phonetic. Rain becoming white.
Symbolism
Snow, snowy scene, white. Represents snow.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Beauty of snowy scenery
Seasonal
Symbol of winter from December to February. Winter traditions like first snow, snow viewing, snowman. Winter seasonal word in haiku.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
雪泥鴻爪
せつでいのこうそう
ephemeral nature of human deeds and events; evanescence of human affairs; leaving no trace; ephemeral nature of human deeds and events
雪に白鷺
ゆきにしらさぎ
A white heron in snow; Something indistinguishable from its background
Poetry
田子の浦に うち出でて見れば 白妙の 富士の高嶺に 雪はふりつつ
Poem #4 from Hyakunin Isshu
君がため 春の野に出でて 若菜つむ わが衣手に 雪はふりつつ
Poem #15 from Hyakunin Isshu
朝ぼらけ ありあけの月と 見るまでに 吉野の里に 降れる白雪
Poem #31 from Hyakunin Isshu
花さそふ 嵐の庭の 雪ならで ふりゆくものは わが身なりけり
Poem #96 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 雪 mean in Japanese?
雪 means snow.
How do you read 雪?
On'yomi: セツ (SETSU). Kun'yomi: ゆき (yuki).
How many strokes does 雪 have?
雪 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 雨 (rain).
Is 雪 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 雪 (snow) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.