霰(あられ)

あられ
noun
hail; sleet; graupel
1. hail; sleet; graupel
Small pellets of ice that fall from the sky, smaller than hailstones (雹).
霰(あられ)が降(ふ)ってきた。
Hail started to fall.
霰(あられ)が窓(まど)に当(あ)たる音(おと)がする。
I can hear hail hitting the window.
冬(ふゆ)の日本海側(にほんかいがわ)では霰(あられ)が多(おお)い。
There's a lot of sleet on the Japan Sea side in winter.

霰(あられ) refers to small ice pellets, distinct from 雹(ひょう) which are larger hailstones.

WEATHER TERMS:

  • 霰(あられ): small ice pellets (under 5mm)
  • 雹(ひょう): hailstones (5mm or larger)
  • 霙(みぞれ): sleet (rain and snow mix)

OTHER MEANING:
あられ also refers to a type of rice cracker (霰餅(あられもち)).

general
Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
05000/05392_arare