霧雨(きりさめ)

Usage

霧雨(きりさめ) is very fine, mist-like rain — lighter than 小雨(こさめ) (light rain). The droplets are so fine they almost float in the air rather than clearly falling. Often described as rain so light you may not need an 傘(かさ) (umbrella), though it still gets you damp over time.

Etymology

霧(きり) (mist, fog) + 雨(さめ) (rain) — literally "mist-rain." The reading さめ is a combining form of あめ.

Common collocations

• 霧雨(きりさめ)が降(ふ)る: drizzle falls
• 霧雨(きりさめ)に濡(ぬ)れる: to get wet from drizzle
• 霧雨(きりさめ)が続(つづ)く: drizzle continues

RELATED WORDS (rain, light to heavy):

• 霧雨(きりさめ): misty drizzle (finest)
• 小雨(こさめ): light rain
• 雨(あめ): rain
• 大雨(おおあめ): heavy rain
• 土砂降(どしゃぶ)り: downpour
• 豪雨(ごうう): torrential rain