Translation guide
A mass of snow sliding down a mountain. In Japanese, the most common and general term is 雪崩 (なだれ), which covers both snowslides and avalanches. More specific or technical terms exist but are rarely needed by learners.
Referring to a mass of snow sliding down a slope, in everyday or general contexts.
The standard word for snowslide or avalanche. Used in news, conversation, and warnings.
昨日、山で雪崩が起きた。
Yesterday, a snowslide occurred in the mountains.
雪崩に注意してください。
Please be careful of avalanches.
Distinguishing types of snowslides by characteristics like snow condition or cause, often in mountaineering or scientific contexts.
Surface-layer avalanche, where a slab of newer snow slides over a harder layer. Technical term.
表層雪崩は気温の急上昇で発生しやすい。
Surface-layer avalanches are likely to occur with a rapid rise in temperature.
Full-depth avalanche, where the entire snowpack slides down to the ground. Technical term.
春先には全層雪崩が多くなる。
Full-depth avalanches become more common in early spring.
Powder-snow avalanche, a fast-moving cloud of light snow. Rare, technical term.
泡雪崩は非常に速い。
Powder-snow avalanches are extremely fast.
In English, 'snowslide' and 'avalanche' are sometimes distinguished by size or material, but Japanese 雪崩 (なだれ) covers both. Use 雪崩 for any sliding snow mass unless you need a technical distinction.