also: はだれゆき · はだらゆき
noun
lingering patches of snow; unmelted snow spots
Refers to snow remaining in scattered patches after most has melted, often seen in early spring. The reading まだらゆき is most common; はだれゆき and はだらゆき are rare and literary.
春になっても山には斑雪が残っている。
Even in spring, patches of snow remain on the mountain.
斑雪の上を歩くのは滑りやすい。
Walking on patches of unmelted snow is slippery.
Search-only form for the reading はだれゆき.
Rare reading; kana spelling may be used when this reading is intended.
Rare reading; kana spelling may be used when this reading is intended.
残雪 refers to remaining snow in general, often a continuous layer, while 斑雪 emphasizes the patchy, scattered appearance.
Compound of 斑 (まだら, 'mottled, patchy') and 雪 (ゆき, 'snow'). The alternate readings はだれゆき and はだらゆき are rare and likely older or dialectal variants; their exact origin is uncertain.