しもやけ

noun

chilblains; frostbite-like swelling

1. chilblains; frostbite-like swelling on the hands or feet

A painful, itchy swelling on the skin caused by poor circulation in cold weather. Commonly affects fingers, toes, and ears.

冬(ふゆ)になるとしもやけができる。

I get chilblains when winter comes.

指先(ゆびさき)のしもやけが痒(かゆ)くてたまらない。

The chilblains on my fingertips are unbearably itchy.

子供(こども)の頃(ころ)は毎年(まいとし)しもやけに悩(なや)まされていたが、大人(おとな)になってからはほとんどできなくなった。

When I was a child, I suffered from chilblains every year, but since becoming an adult I hardly get them anymore.

A common winter ailment in Japan, especially among children. Chilblains are caused by repeated exposure to cold (but not freezing) temperatures, which damages small blood vessels in the skin. Unlike frostbite (凍傷(とうしょう)), しもやけ occurs at temperatures above freezing and involves itchy, red, swollen patches rather than tissue damage from ice crystals.

The word is written in hiragana in modern usage, though the kanji 霜焼(しもや)け (literally "frost burn") is occasionally seen.

Common collocations

しもやけができる: to get chilblains
しもやけに悩(なや)まされる: to suffer from chilblains
しもやけが痒(かゆ)い: chilblains are itchy
しもやけの予防(よぼう): prevention of chilblains
しもやけの薬(くすり): medicine for chilblains

Similar words

凍傷(とうしょう): frostbite — more severe, caused by actual freezing of tissue
あかぎれ: chapped skin; cracks in the skin from cold and dryness

Related Words

Compare: 凍傷(とうしょう) (frostbite)

general

Added 2026.4.22 19:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

24500/24993_shimoyake