light snow; thin layer of snow
Refers to a light, delicate snowfall or a thin covering of snow that may melt quickly. Often used poetically.
朝起きると、庭に淡雪がうっすらと積もっていた。
When I woke up in the morning, a thin layer of light snow had covered the garden.
jellied dessert (egg white, agar, sugar)
A traditional Japanese sweet with a light, airy texture resembling snow. Also written as 阿わ雪.
祖母が作る淡雪は、口の中でふわっと溶ける。
The 淡雪 my grandmother makes melts softly in the mouth.
Standard kanji spelling for light snow and the dessert.
Alternate kanji spelling; 泡 suggests 'bubbles' or 'foam', fitting the dessert's texture.
Rarely used kanji form; 沫 also means 'bubbles' or 'foam'.
Compound of 淡 (awa, 'light, pale') + 雪 (yuki, 'snow'). The dessert sense derives from its resemblance to light, fluffy snow.