rain

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is う, and the kun readings are あめ and あま. It has 8 strokes. It appears in words for rain and heavy rain.
• Basic usage: 雨 is read あめ and 大雨 is read おおあめ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 雨 / 大雨
  • 雨 means rain and is read あめ. It refers to ordinary rain falling from the sky.
  • 朝から冷たい雨が降っています。 means “Cold rain has been falling since morning.”
  • 大雨 means heavy rain and is read おおあめ. It refers to rain heavy enough to close roads.
  • 大雨のため川沿いの道が閉鎖された。 means “Heavy rain closed the road along the river.”