also: あきしも
noun
autumn frost; fall frost
Literal meaning: frost in autumn. The reading あきしも is rare; しゅうそう is the usual reading even for this sense.
秋霜が降りると、畑の作物が傷む。
When autumn frost falls, the crops in the field are damaged.
noun
Only with reading しゅうそう
Figurative use, often in literary or formal contexts. Compares severity to the sharpness of autumn frost. Reading restricted to しゅうそう.
See also: 秋霜烈日
彼の指導には秋霜の厳しさがある。
His guidance has the strictness of autumn frost.
noun
Only with reading しゅうそう
Metaphorical use: hair white like autumn frost. Rare and literary. Reading restricted to しゅうそう.
老いて秋霜の髪となった。
Growing old, his hair turned white like autumn frost.
noun
Only with reading しゅうそう
Metaphorical use: a sword as sharp and cold as autumn frost. Very rare and literary. Reading restricted to しゅうそう.
秋霜の剣が敵を貫いた。
The sword, sharp as autumn frost, pierced the enemy.
A four-character compound meaning 'autumn frost and blazing sun', used figuratively for strictness or severity, especially in legal or moral contexts. 秋霜 alone can carry a similar nuance but is less common.
Compound of 秋 (autumn) and 霜 (frost). The figurative meanings derive from the sharp, cold, and white qualities of autumn frost.