light night shower in late autumn or early winter
A poetic seasonal word (kigo) for haiku and traditional poetry, describing a brief, gentle rain that falls at night during the transition from autumn to winter. Not used in everyday conversation.
The autumn leaves wet with a light night shower are beautiful.
The seasonal word in this haiku is 'sayoshigure'.
Refers to a light shower in late autumn or early winter, but not specifically at night. 小夜時雨 adds the poetic nuance of nighttime.
A general term for night rain, without the seasonal or poetic connotation of 小夜時雨.
Compound of 小夜 (sayo, 'night', a poetic term) and 時雨 (shigure, 'autumn/winter shower'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a classical poetic word.