Translation guide
A brief period of rain, often sudden and sometimes heavy. Japanese has several words for rain showers, distinguished by intensity, duration, and season.
A brief, often unexpected rainfall that starts and stops quickly.
The most common and general term for a sudden, short rain shower. Suitable for everyday conversation.
A rain shower has started.
There will be rain showers in the afternoon.
Literally 'passing rain', emphasizing that the shower moves through quickly. Often used when the rain is seen coming and going.
That rain just now was just a passing shower, wasn't it.
A literary or technical term for a sudden downpour or shower. Rare in daily speech.
The rain shower passed.
A sudden, strong burst of rain, often with large drops.
A brief rain shower that occurs in the evening, especially during summer.
A summer evening shower, often sudden and heavy. A very common seasonal word.
I got caught in an evening shower and got soaked.
Rain falling while the sun is shining, often seen as whimsical.
にわか雨 is the most general term for a sudden, short shower. 通り雨 emphasizes the passing nature, often used when you see the rain moving. 夕立 specifically refers to a summer evening shower, which can be heavy and is a common seasonal phenomenon.
The English loanword シャワー means a shower (bath) and is not used for rain showers. Use the native Japanese terms above.
I walked in the pouring rain.
There might be an evening shower today.
A poetic phrase for a sunshower, literally 'fox's wedding'. Used in folklore and literature.
It's a sunshower, isn't it.