猛 寒(もうかん)

もうかん

noun

severe cold; bitter cold

nature

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)の冬(ふゆ)は猛寒(もうかん)だ。

This winter is bitterly cold.

猛寒(もうかん)の中(なか)を歩(ある)いて帰(かえ)った。

I walked home in the bitter cold.

猛寒(もうかん)が続(つづ)き、水道管(すいどうかん)が凍結(とうけつ)する被害(ひがい)が相次(あいつ)いだ。

The severe cold continued, and there were one incident after another of water pipes freezing.

猛(もう) means 'fierce' or 'intense,' and 寒(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)が続(つづ)く (severe cold continues)
猛寒(もうかん)の中(なか) (in the bitter cold)
猛寒(もうかん)に見舞(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 猛(もう) prefix)

Related Words

Compare: 厳寒(げんかん) (severe cold (more formal and literary)

Compare: 極寒(ごっかん) (extreme cold (the strongest degree)

Compare: 猛暑(もうしょ) (extreme heat)

general

Added 2026.4.1 7:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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