also: さつきあめ
early-summer rain; rainy season rain
Refers to the intermittent rain typical of the early summer rainy season (tsuyu) in Japan, often with a poetic or literary feel.
The early-summer rain is falling gently and persistently.
At this time of year, the laundry won't dry because of the rainy-season rain.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading さみだれ is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered archaic or literary.
五月 (the fifth month of the lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to June) + 雨 (rain). The reading さみだれ is a sound shift from さつきあめ (五月雨).