also: じう
rain shower in late autumn or early winter
A brief, intermittent shower typical of the transition from autumn to winter. Often carries a poetic or seasonal nuance in Japanese literature.
時雨が降ってきたので、急いで軒下に入った。
A late-autumn shower started, so I hurried under the eaves.
京都の冬の訪れは、時雨とともに感じられる。
In Kyoto, the arrival of winter is felt with the seasonal showers.
seasonable rain
Only with reading じう
Archaic reading じう for a rain that falls at the appropriate season. Rarely used in modern Japanese outside classical contexts.
古歌では「じう」と読み、季節にかなった雨を指すことがある。
In classical poetry, it is read as じう and can refer to rain that suits the season.
As we walked along the mountain path, a late-autumn shower suddenly began to fall.
I got caught in a late-autumn shower while out for a walk.
spring rain; spring shower; spring drizzle
tenth lunar month
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the seasonal nuance is not the focus.