Translation guide
Sleet refers to a mix of rain and snow, or partially melted snow. In Japanese, the most common and natural term is みぞれ (mizore). There are also more technical or literary alternatives.
The most common meaning: precipitation that is a mix of rain and snow, or wet snow.
The standard, everyday word for sleet. Used in weather forecasts and daily conversation.
今日はみぞれが降っている。
It's sleeting today.
みぞれ交じりの雨。
Rain mixed with sleet.
The kanji form of みぞれ. Rarely used in everyday writing; mostly seen in literature or formal contexts.
空から霙が降り注ぐ。
Sleet pours down from the sky.
Literally 'snow mixed with rain'. A descriptive phrase that can be used when you want to be explicit.
外は雨混じりの雪だ。
It's snow mixed with rain outside.
Literally 'rain mixed with snow'. Similar to the above but emphasizes rain as the main component.
雪混じりの雨が降り始めた。
Rain mixed with snow started to fall.
Snow that is melting as it falls, often slushy.
Also covers wet, slushy snow. Context usually makes it clear.
みぞれ状の雪が積もっている。
Slushy snow is accumulating.
Colloquial term for wet, heavy snow that is almost slush. Not standard in formal contexts.
このべちゃ雪はすぐ溶ける。
This wet snow will melt soon.
In American English, sleet often means ice pellets that bounce. This is technically different from the rain-snow mix.
Technical meteorological term for ice pellets. Not commonly used in daily conversation.
気象庁は凍雨を観測した。
The meteorological agency observed ice pellets.
Literally 'ice hail', sometimes used for small ice pellets. Not a perfect match for sleet.
氷あられが窓に当たる音がする。
I hear the sound of ice pellets hitting the window.
Sleet (みぞれ) is not hail (雹, ひょう). Hail is larger, harder, and associated with thunderstorms. Using 雹 for sleet would be incorrect.
In most situations, みぞれ is the safest and most natural choice. Other terms are either too technical or too specific.