snow

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is せつ, and the kun reading is ゆき. It has 11 strokes. It appears in words for snow and heavy snowfall.
• Basic usage: 雪 is read ゆき and 大雪 is read おおゆき.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 雪 / 大雪
  • 雪 means snow and is read ゆき. It refers to snow that accumulates or can be packed into a snowman.
  • 朝起きると庭に白い雪が積もっていた。 means “When I woke up in the morning, white snow covered the yard.”
  • 大雪 means heavy snow or snowstorm and is read おおゆき. It refers to snowfall heavy enough to close a school or prompt an early return home.
  • 大雪で学校が一日休みになった。 means “School was closed for a day because of the heavy snow.”