1.
snow shoveling; clearing away snow
The act of removing accumulated snow from roads, sidewalks, roofs, or other surfaces, typically using a shovel or other tools. A regular winter chore in snowy regions of Japan.
朝から雪かきをした。
I shoveled snow from the morning.
雪かきは体力を使う作業だ。
Snow shoveling is physically demanding work.
大雪の後は、近所の人たちと協力して雪かきをする。
After heavy snowfall, we cooperate with the neighbors to shovel snow.
Compound of 雪 (snow) and かき (scraping/raking), from the verb 掻く (to scrape). A daily necessity in regions like Hokkaido, Tohoku, and the Sea of Japan coast during winter.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 雪かきをする: to shovel snow
- 雪かき道具: snow removal tools
- 屋根の雪かき: clearing snow from the roof
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 除雪: snow removal — more formal, often used for official/municipal operations
- 雪おろし: clearing snow from a roof — specifically removing snow that has piled up on rooftops
- 雪かき is the everyday, colloquial term used by individuals for manual snow clearing