残雪(ざんせつ)

ざんせつ
noun
remaining snow; lingering snow
natureweather
1. remaining snow; lingering snow; late-season snow patches
Snow that remains on mountains or in shaded areas after winter has ended. A somewhat poetic or literary term evocative of the transition from winter to spring.
山(やま)にはまだ残雪(ざんせつ)がある。
There is still lingering snow on the mountain.
残雪(ざんせつ)の白(しろ)さが青空(あおぞら)に映(は)えていた。
The whiteness of the remaining snow stood out against the blue sky.
五月(ごがつ)になっても北(きた)アルプスの山頂(さんちょう)付近(ふきん)には残雪(ざんせつ)が見(み)られる。
Even in May, lingering snow can be seen near the summit of the Northern Alps.

A literary and evocative word for snow that persists after the main winter season, especially on mountaintops or in shaded valleys. Often appears in nature writing, weather reports about mountain conditions, and poetry.

Common collocations

Usage

Often used in mountaineering and hiking contexts. 残雪(ざんせつ)期(き) refers to the period in spring when patches of snow remain on trails and can make hiking conditions treacherous.

Similar words

  • 積雪(せきせつ): accumulated snow — snow on the ground during winter, not specifically leftover snow
  • 万年雪(まんねんゆき): permanent snow field — snow that never melts
  • 雪解(ゆきど)け: snowmelt — the process of snow melting, not the snow itself

Related Words

Compare: 積雪(せきせつ) (accumulated snow)
Compare: 雪解(ゆきど)け (snowmelt)
Related: 根雪(ねゆき) (lingering snow)
Antonym: 新雪(しんせつ) (fresh snow)
general
Added 2026.4.1 1:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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