霧雨(きりさめ)

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.

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

RAIN VOCABULARY (light → 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

Usage

Often described as rain so light you may not need an 傘(かさ) (umbrella), though it still gets you damp over time.