1.
severe cold; bitter cold; intense cold
Extremely cold weather or temperatures. Used to describe harsh winter conditions that go beyond ordinary cold.
今年の冬は猛寒だ。
This winter is bitterly cold.
猛寒の中を歩いて帰った。
I walked home in the bitter cold.
猛寒が続き、水道管が凍結する被害が相次いだ。
The severe cold continued, and there were one incident after another of water pipes freezing.
猛 means 'fierce' or 'intense,' and 寒 means 'cold.' 猛寒 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:
- 猛寒が続く (severe cold continues)
- 猛寒の中 (in the bitter cold)
- 猛寒に見舞われる (to be hit by severe cold)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 厳寒 — severe cold (more formal and literary; often used in written weather descriptions)
- 極寒 — extreme cold (the strongest degree; used for Arctic-level conditions)
- 猛暑 — extreme heat (the summer counterpart, using the same 猛 prefix)