(きせつふう)

きせつふう
noun
seasonal wind; monsoon
weathernature
1. seasonal wind; monsoon
A wind that changes direction with the seasons. In Japan, this refers especially to the cold northwesterly winds from Siberia in winter and the warm southerly winds in summer.
(ふゆ)季節風(きせつふう)(つよ)
The winter seasonal winds are strong.
季節風(きせつふう)影響(えいきょう)日本海側(にほんかいがわ)大雪(おおゆき)なる
Due to the seasonal winds, the Sea of Japan side gets heavy snowfall.
In Asia, monsoons have a major impact on agriculture, determining the rainy and dry seasons.

Composed of 季節(きせつ) (season) + (ふう) (wind). Refers to winds that blow from different directions depending on the season, driven by temperature differences between land and ocean.

Common collocations

Japan-specific

In winter, cold 季節風(きせつふう) blow from the northwest (from Siberia), picking up moisture over the Sea of Japan and depositing heavy snow on the 日本海側(にほんかいがわ) (Sea of Japan coast). In summer, warm moist winds blow from the southeast, contributing to the humid climate.

Related words

  • モンスーン: monsoon — the English loanword, used interchangeably in some contexts
  • 偏西風(へんせいふう): westerlies — a different wind system (prevailing westerly winds)
  • 貿易風(ぼうえきふう): trade winds