Translation guide
The cold wind blowing from the north. In Japanese, the most common and natural word is 北風 (kitakaze). There are also poetic or literary terms, but they are rarely used in daily conversation.
北風
north wind
The ordinary, everyday word for a wind blowing from the north.
The standard, neutral word for 'north wind'. Used in weather forecasts, daily conversation, and writing.
今日は北風が冷たいですね。
The north wind is cold today, isn't it?
北風が強く吹いている。
A strong north wind is blowing.
A more elegant or classical word for north wind, often found in poetry, songs, or literature.
A literary term for north wind. Rarely used in modern conversation; may appear in classical poetry or stylized writing.
朔風が木の葉を散らす。
The north wind scatters the leaves.
A poetic term for a strong north wind blowing down from the mountains. Regional and literary.
冬の北颪が身にしみる。
The winter north wind chills to the bone.
北風 is the go-to word in almost all situations. You can use it in casual chat, formal writing, or weather reports. The more literary terms are best avoided unless you are writing poetry or want to sound deliberately old-fashioned.