Translation guide
Describes light, fine rain falling steadily. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with specific verbs, onomatopoeic adverbs, or descriptive phrases.
It's drizzling.
It's drizzling.
Describe the weather when very fine, light rain is falling.
The most direct and common way to say 'it's drizzling'. 霧雨 (kirisame) means 'drizzle' or 'fine rain', and 降る (furu) means 'to fall' (rain).
It's drizzling outside.
小雨 (kosame) means 'light rain'. It can be used for drizzle, though it may also refer to a light shower. Slightly broader than 霧雨.
A light rain started to fall.
Onomatopoeic adverb describing gentle, quiet, continuous rain. Very natural for drizzling. Often used with 降る.
It's drizzling quietly.
Onomatopoeic adverb for sparse, light raindrops. Implies the rain is just starting or very light. Can be used for drizzle.
It started to drizzle.
Literally 'rice-bran rain', a poetic term for very fine, mist-like rain. Less common in daily conversation.
A fine drizzle is falling like mist.
霧雨 (kirisame) specifically means drizzle – very fine, mist-like rain. 小雨 (kosame) is light rain in general, which could be drizzle or a light shower. For true drizzle, 霧雨 is more precise.
My clothes got damp from the drizzle.
If it's just light rain, I don't need an umbrella.
Japanese has many onomatopoeic words for rain. しとしと is gentle and steady; ぽつぽつ is sparse and light; ざあざあ is heavy downpour. Using these makes descriptions vivid and natural.
A drizzling rain fell all day.
I went out in the drizzle.