(もうかん)

もうかん
noun
severe cold; bitter cold
1. severe cold; bitter cold; intense cold
Extremely cold weather or temperatures. Used to describe harsh winter conditions that go beyond ordinary cold.
今年(ことし)(ふゆ)猛寒(もうかん)だ。
This winter is bitterly cold.
猛寒(もうかん)(なか)(ある)いて(かえ)った。
I walked home in the bitter cold.
猛寒(もうかん)(つづ)き、水道管(すいどうかん)凍結(とうけつ)する被害(ひがい)相次(あいつ)いだ。
The severe cold continued, and there were one incident after another of water pipes freezing.

(もう) means 'fierce' or 'intense,' and (かん) means 'cold.' 猛寒(もうかん) describes cold weather that is exceptionally severe, going beyond the usual winter chill. It is used in weather reports, news, and everyday conversation during extreme cold snaps.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 猛寒(もうかん)(つづ)く (severe cold continues)
  • 猛寒(もうかん)(なか) (in the bitter cold)
  • 猛寒(もうかん)見舞(みま)われる (to be hit by severe cold)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 厳寒(げんかん) — severe cold (more formal and literary; often used in written weather descriptions)
  • 極寒(ごっかん) — extreme cold (the strongest degree; used for Arctic-level conditions)
  • 猛暑(もうしょ) — extreme heat (the summer counterpart, using the same (もう) prefix)