吹雪(ふぶき)

ふぶき
noun
blizzard, snowstorm
1. blizzard, snowstorm
A severe snowstorm with strong winds and heavy snowfall that reduces visibility.
激(はげ)しい吹雪(ふぶき)で前(まえ)が見(み)えなかった。
I couldn't see ahead because of the severe blizzard.
吹雪(ふぶき)のため、飛行機(ひこうき)が欠航(けっこう)になった。
The flight was canceled due to the blizzard.
山(やま)で吹雪(ふぶき)に遭(あ)って、遭難(そうなん)しかけた。
We got caught in a blizzard in the mountains and almost got lost.

ETYMOLOGY:
Combines 吹(ふ)く (to blow) and 雪(ゆき) (snow), literally "blowing snow." The rendaku changes ゆき to ぶき.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 吹雪(ふぶき)に遭(あ)う: to get caught in a blizzard
  • 吹雪(ふぶき)が荒(あ)れる: the blizzard rages
  • 猛(もう)吹雪(ふぶき): fierce blizzard
  • 吹雪(ふぶき)で視界(しかい)がない: no visibility due to a blizzard

RELATED WEATHER TERMS:

  • 大雪(おおゆき): heavy snow (without necessarily strong wind)
  • 暴風雪(ぼうふうせつ): blizzard (formal meteorological term, used in weather forecasts)
  • 地吹雪(じふぶき): ground blizzard (wind-driven snow along the ground)

USAGE:
Common in weather reports and news about northern Japan, especially Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. Also used figuratively: 桜吹雪(さくらふぶき) (a shower of cherry blossoms).

general
Added 2026.1.13 20:59 · Revised 2026.4.3 14:49
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