Explanation at your level:
Hello! Today we learn 降る (furu). It means rain or snow falls. Like, 'It is raining.' In Japanese, we say 雨が降る (ame ga furu). Or if snow falls, we say 雪が降る (yuki ga furu). It is very simple! Just remember, 降る is for things falling from the sky, like rain and snow. You can use it to talk about the weather today!
The verb 降る (furu) is essential for talking about weather. It means 'to fall' specifically for precipitation like rain (雨 - ame) and snow (雪 - yuki). You'll often hear 雨が降る (ame ga furu) for 'it rains' and 雪が降る (yuki ga furu) for 'it snows'. This verb is used with the particle が (ga) before it, showing what is falling. For example, 'It looks like it will snow tomorrow' is 「明日は雪が降るでしょう。」 (Ashita wa yuki ga furu deshou). Mastering 降る helps you discuss basic weather conditions accurately.
降る (furu) is the standard verb for precipitation falling. Its primary uses are 雨が降る (ame ga furu - it rains) and 雪が降る (yuki ga furu - it snows). You'll encounter this verb frequently in weather forecasts and daily conversations about the climate. For instance, if you want to say 'It rained heavily yesterday,' you'd use the past tense: 「昨日は雨がたくさん降りました。」 (Kinō wa ame ga takusan furimashita). It can also be used for other falling weather like hail (雹 - hyō) or sleet (みぞれ - mizore), as in 雹が降る (hyō ga furu). Understanding the conjugation of 降る, like its past tense 降った (futta), is key to discussing weather events effectively.
The verb 降る (furu) signifies the act of precipitation descending from the atmosphere. While its core meaning relates to rain (雨 - ame) and snow (雪 - yuki), its usage extends to other forms like hail (雹 - hyō) and sleet (みぞれ - mizore), e.g., 雹が降る (hyō ga furu). Pay attention to its intransitive nature; the falling element is the subject marked by が (ga). Beyond literal weather, 降る can appear in more figurative contexts, such as describing things falling in abundance, like petals (花びら - hanabira) or confetti, often in literary or poetic language. Understanding its conjugations, like the potential form 降れる (fureru), allows for nuanced expression about weather possibilities.
降る (furu) is a fundamental verb denoting descent from the atmosphere, most commonly associated with meteorological phenomena. Its primary applications are 雨が降る (ame ga furu) and 雪が降る (yuki ga furu), but it encompasses all forms of precipitation, including 雹が降る (hyō ga furu - hail falls) and みぞれが降る (mizore ga furu - sleet falls). The verb operates intransitively, with the precipitating element serving as the subject, typically marked by が (ga). While its literal meteorological meaning is prevalent, 降る can be employed metaphorically in advanced Japanese to describe a cascade or shower of non-precipitation elements, such as blessings (恵み - megumi) or even abstract concepts, lending a poetic or literary flair. Mastery involves recognizing these subtle extensions and understanding its grammatical behavior, including its various conjugations like the volitional 降ろう (furō).
The verb 降る (furu) embodies the concept of descent from the heavens, primarily applied to meteorological precipitation. Its semantic range covers rain (雨 - ame), snow (雪 - yuki), hail (雹 - hyō), and sleet (みぞれ - mizore), functioning intransitively with the falling substance as the subject (e.g., 雪が降る - yuki ga furu). Beyond its literal meteorological significance, 降る possesses a rich potential for figurative and literary application. It can describe an overwhelming influx or abundance of various elements, from natural phenomena like falling leaves (葉 - ha) to abstract concepts like blessings (恵み - megumi) or even curses (呪い - noroi). The kanji 降 itself, denoting descent, reinforces this meaning across contexts. Advanced learners will appreciate its role in idiomatic expressions like 雨降って地固まる (ame futte ji katamaru), signifying stabilization after turmoil, and its nuanced use in classical literature and poetry to evoke atmosphere and emotion. Understanding its etymological roots further deepens comprehension of its pervasive semantic field.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- <strong>降る (furu)</strong> is the primary verb for precipitation (rain, snow, hail) falling from the sky.
- It is an intransitive verb, typically used with the particle <strong>が (ga)</strong>, e.g., <strong>雨が降る</strong> (ame ga furu).
- Common collocations include <strong>雨が降る</strong> and <strong>雪が降る</strong>.
- It can also be used figuratively for things falling abundantly, though this is less common in daily speech.
Hey there! Let's dive into the wonderful Japanese verb 降る (furu). It's a super useful word that describes something coming down from the sky, most commonly rain or snow. Think of it as the sky's way of giving us a little gift, whether it's a refreshing shower or a cozy blanket of snow. We use 降る for all sorts of precipitation, making it a fundamental part of talking about the weather in Japan. It’s one of those verbs that paints a vivid picture in your mind, right?
Imagine you're looking out the window and see those little droplets hitting the glass, or perhaps delicate snowflakes drifting down. That's exactly when you'd use 降る. It captures that gentle descent, the natural process of things falling from above. It’s not just limited to rain and snow, though those are the most frequent uses. You might even hear it used metaphorically, but we’ll get to that later! For now, just remember 降る is all about things coming down from the sky.
The word 降る (furu) has a long and fascinating history, tracing its roots back to ancient Japanese. The kanji 降 itself is composed of parts that suggest descending or falling. In Old Japanese, the verb was likely pronounced something similar to 'furu' or 'furu-'. Over centuries, as the Japanese language evolved, the pronunciation and written forms solidified into what we know today.
The kanji 降 is quite illustrative. It visually represents something coming down from above. This character has been used for centuries to denote descent, surrender, or falling. Its connection to weather phenomena like rain and snow is ancient, reflecting how early Japanese people observed and described their environment. Interestingly, the character 降 is also used in other East Asian languages, often with similar meanings related to descending or falling, highlighting a shared linguistic heritage.
Historically, understanding weather was crucial for agriculture and daily life. Verbs like 降る were essential for communication about these vital aspects. Whether it was a good harvest season with timely rains or a harsh winter with heavy snow, the verb 降る played a central role in describing the natural world and its impact on people's lives. It’s a testament to the enduring power of language to capture fundamental aspects of human experience.
降る is primarily used to talk about precipitation. The most common collocations involve the types of weather that fall: 雨が降る (ame ga furu - it rains) and 雪が降る (yuki ga furu - it snows). You'll hear these phrases constantly when discussing the weather forecast or current conditions. For example, 「明日は雨が降るでしょう。」 (Ashita wa ame ga furu deshou - It will probably rain tomorrow.)
Beyond rain and snow, 降る can also be used for other forms of precipitation like hail (雹が降る - hyō ga furu) or even sleet (みぞれが降る - mizore ga furu). While less common in everyday conversation, it shows the versatility of the verb. It’s important to note that 降る is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. The subject is what is falling (e.g., rain, snow), and it's followed by the particle が (ga).
In more figurative senses, 降る can sometimes be used to describe things falling in large quantities, like confetti or even blessings, though this is less common and often found in literature or more poetic contexts. For instance, 「花びらが降る」 (hanabira ga furu - petals fall) might be used poetically. However, for beginners, focusing on its use with rain and snow is key. Remember, it’s always about something descending from above!
While 降る itself is a straightforward verb, it appears in various expressions and can be part of idiomatic descriptions, especially related to weather and its effects.
- 雨降って地固まる (Ame futte ji katamaru): Literally means 'after rain falls, the ground hardens.' It's an idiom suggesting that after a difficult period or conflict, things become more stable and stronger. It's like saying 'every cloud has a silver lining' but with a weather twist.
- 雪辱を晴らす (Setsujoku o harasu): Although this doesn't directly use 降る, the concept of 'clearing' (晴らす) is related to dispelling a negative state, much like clearing skies after rain. It means to avenge a past defeat or humiliation.
- 降り積もる (Furi tsumoru): This isn't strictly an idiom, but it's a very common compound verb meaning 'to fall and pile up,' specifically used for snow. 「雪が降り積もった。」 (Yuki ga furi tsumotta - The snow piled up.)
- 降りかかる (Furi kakaru): Means 'to fall upon' or 'to befall,' often used for troubles or responsibilities. 「迷惑が降りかかる。」 (Meiwaku ga furi kakaru - Trouble befalls me.)
- 降りかかる火の粉は払え (Furi kakaru hi no ko wa harae): A proverb meaning 'brush off sparks that fall on you.' It advises to deal with any trouble or danger that comes your way immediately and decisively.
降る (furu) is a Group 1 verb (a 'u'-verb) in Japanese. This means its stem changes when conjugating into certain forms. For example, in the polite ます (masu) form, the 'u' sound changes to 'i': 降ります (furimasu). In the negative ない (nai) form, the 'u' changes to 'wa': 降らない (fura nai).
The past tense is formed by changing 'u' to 'tta': 降った (futta). The potential form (can fall) is 降れる (fureru), and the volitional form (let's fall) is 降ろう (furō).
Pronunciation: The word is pronounced 'foo-roo'. The 'fu' sound is similar to the English 'f' but with a bit more breath. The 'ru' sound is a light tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, similar to the 'tt' in the American English pronunciation of 'butter'.
IPA (British): /fʊˈɹuː/
IPA (American): /fʊˈɹu/
Rhyming words: While direct rhymes are less common due to Japanese syllable structure, words ending in '-uru' might be considered near rhymes in some contexts, such as 振る (furu - to shake/wave) or 掘る (horu - to dig). However, they are distinct words with different meanings and kanji.
Fun Fact
The kanji 降 itself is a pictograph or ideograph representing something descending. It's used in many words related to falling or descending.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'foo-ROO', with the stress on the second syllable. The 'f' is standard, and the 'r' is a light tap.
Similar to UK, 'foo-ROO', stress on the second syllable. The 'r' might be slightly more pronounced than in UK English.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'fu' too strongly, like the English 'foo'. It's softer.
- Making the 'ru' sound too hard, like the English 'rue'. It should be a light flap.
- Incorrect stress, placing it on the first syllable instead of the second.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read in basic contexts, harder in literary/figurative use.
Easy for basic weather, requires more nuance for figurative use.
Essential for basic conversation, pronunciation needs practice.
Very common, easy to understand in context.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Intransitive Verbs
雨が降る (Ame ga furu) - Rain falls. (Subject + が + Verb)
Verb Conjugation (Group 1)
降る (furu) -> 降らない (fura nai), 降った (futta), 降ります (furimasu)
Potential Form
雪が降れる (Yuki ga fureru) - Snow can fall.
Examples by Level
雨が降る。
Rain falls.
雨 (ame) = rain, が (ga) = particle, 降る (furu) = to fall.
雪が降る。
Snow falls.
雪 (yuki) = snow.
空から雨が降る。
From the sky rain falls.
空から (sora kara) = from the sky.
今日は雨が降る。
Today rain falls.
今日 (kyō) = today.
雨が降ります。
Rain falls (polite).
降ります (furimasu) is the polite form of 降る (furu).
雪が降ります。
Snow falls (polite).
Polite form for snow.
雨が降らない。
Rain does not fall.
降らない (fura nai) is the negative form.
雪が降らない。
Snow does not fall.
Negative form for snow.
明日は雨が降るでしょう。
Tomorrow rain will fall probably.
でしょう (deshou) indicates probability.
昨日は雪がたくさん降った。
Yesterday snow a lot fell.
たくさん (takusan) = a lot; 降った (futta) = past tense.
傘を持っていったほうがいいよ。雨が降るかもしれないから。
Umbrella take better is. Rain fall might because.
～ほうがいい (hou ga ii) = it's better to...; ～かもしれない (kamo shirenai) = might.
この地域では冬になると雪がよく降る。
This region in winter when becomes snow often falls.
～になると (ni naru to) = when it becomes...; よく (yoku) = often.
窓の外を見ると、雨が降っていた。
Window outside look, rain was falling.
～ていた (te ita) = past progressive tense.
この季節は雨が降りやすい。
This season rain falls easily.
～やすい (yasui) = easy to...
雨が止んだら、傘をしまってください。
Rain stops if, umbrella please put away.
～たら (tara) = if/when.
今日は風が強いけど、雨は降っていない。
Today wind strong but, rain is not falling.
けど (kedo) = but.
週間天気予報によると、来週は雨が降る日が多いらしい。
Weekly weather forecast according to, next week rain falls days many seems.
～によると (ni yoru to) = according to; ～らしい (rashii) = seems like.
子供の頃、雨が降るといつも外で遊んだものです。
When I was a child, rain falls always outside played habit.
～ものだ (mono da) = expresses a past habit or nostalgic memory.
突然の豪雨で、道路に水が溜まり、車が運転しにくくなった。
Sudden heavy rain by, road on water pooled, cars drive difficult became.
豪雨 (gōu) = heavy rain; 運転しにくい (unten shi nikui) = difficult to drive.
雪が降り積もって、街は一面真っ白になった。
Snow fell piled up, town was one side pure white became.
降り積もる (furi tsumoru) = to fall and pile up; 一面 (ichimen) = one side/entirely.
傘を忘れてしまった。この雨が止むまで待つしかない。
Umbrella forgot. This rain stops until wait only can.
～しかない (shika nai) = have no choice but to...
この辺りは夏でも時々夕立が降るから注意が必要です。
This area in summer even sometimes evening shower falls so caution necessary is.
夕立 (yūdachi) = sudden evening shower.
天気予報では晴れだったのに、急に雨が降り出した。
Weather forecast in sunny but, suddenly rain started to fall.
降り出す (furi dasu) = to start to fall.
雪が降っている間は、外に出ないほうがいい。
Snow is falling while, outside go better not.
～間は (aida wa) = while/during.
長引く梅雨前線の影響で、各地で大雨が降る恐れがある。
Lingering rainy season front's influence by, various places heavy rain falls danger exists.
長引く (nagabiku) = to linger; 梅雨前線 (tsuyu zensen) = rainy season front; 恐れがある (osore ga aru) = there is a fear/risk.
彼は、かつて受けた屈辱を雪辱すべく、必死に努力を続けた。
He, formerly received humiliation avenge, desperately effort continued.
雪辱する (setsujoku suru) = to avenge/redeem oneself; べく (buku) = in order to (formal).
予期せぬ大雪により、多くの地域で交通網が麻痺し、住民の生活に支障が出た。
Unexpected heavy snow by, many areas transportation network paralyzed, residents' lives in hindrance appeared.
予期せぬ (yoki senu) = unexpected; 麻痺する (mahi suru) = to be paralyzed; 支障が出る (shishō ga deru) = to cause hindrance.
その詩は、まるで春の訪れを告げるかのように、優しく花びらが舞い降る情景を描写している。
That poem, just like spring's arrival announce as if, gently petals dance fall scene describes.
訪れ (otozure) = arrival; 舞い降る (mai furu) = to dance and fall (poetic).
降りかかる火の粉は払え、という諺があるように、問題は早期に解決すべきだ。
Falling sparks brush off, saying proverb exists as, problems early should solve.
諺 (kotowaza) = proverb; 早期に (sōki ni) = early.
この地域では、冬になると平均して一メートル以上の積雪があるため、除雪作業が不可欠だ。
This region in, winter when becomes average over one meter snow accumulation exists because, snow removal work essential is.
積雪 (sekisetsu) = snow accumulation; 除雪作業 (josetsu sagyō) = snow removal work; 不可欠 (fukaketsu) = essential.
突然の雷雨に見舞われ、屋外イベントは中止せざるを得なかった。
Sudden thunderstorm by affected, outdoor event cancelled unavoidable became.
雷雨 (raiu) = thunderstorm; 見舞われる (mimaiwareru) = to be affected by; ～せざるを得ない (se zaru o enai) = cannot help but do.
彼のスピーチは、まるで天からの啓示が降り注ぐかのようで、聴衆を魅了した。
His speech, just like from heaven revelation falls pours as if, audience captivated.
啓示 (keiji) = revelation; 降り注ぐ (furi sosogu) = to pour down; 魅了する (miryō suru) = to captivate.
長引く梅雨前線の停滞により、西日本を中心に記録的な大雨が降り注ぐ見込みである。
Lingering rainy season front's stagnation by, Western Japan centering on record-breaking heavy rain pours expected is.
停滞 (teitai) = stagnation; 注ぐ (sosogu) = to pour; 見込みである (mikomi de aru) = it is expected (formal).
敗北の屈辱を雪辱せんがため、彼は長年鍛錬を積み、ついに栄光を掴んだ。
Defeat's humiliation avenge in order to, he many years training accumulated, finally glory seized.
雪辱せんがため (setsujoku sen ga tame) = in order to avenge (classical/literary); 鍛錬 (tanren) = training/discipline.
予期せぬ豪雪に見舞われた地域では、孤立した集落への支援物資の投下が急務となった。
Unexpected heavy snow affected areas in, isolated settlements to aid supplies' dropping urgent task became.
孤立した (koritsu shita) = isolated; 投下 (tōka) = dropping/delivery; 急務 (kyūmu) = urgent task.
その小説は、まるで冬の終わりに雪解け水が大地に染み込むように、静かに、しかし確実に読者の心に染み渡る。
That novel, just like winter's end snowmelt water ground into seeps as, quietly, but surely reader's heart into permeates.
雪解け水 (yukidoke mizu) = snowmelt water; 染み込む (shimikomu) = to seep into; 染み渡る (shimivataru) = to permeate.
降りかかる火の粉は払え、という言葉通り、彼はどんな困難にも臆することなく立ち向かった。
Falling sparks brush off, saying as it is, he any difficulty without fear confronted.
臆することなく (oku suru koto naku) = without fear/hesitation.
この山岳地帯では、冬期になると平均して数メートルの積雪があり、遭難事故も少なくないため、十分な装備が必須となる。
This mountainous region in, winter period when becomes average several meters snow accumulation exists, accidents also not few because, sufficient equipment essential becomes.
山岳地帯 (sangaku chitai) = mountainous region; 遭難事故 (sōnan jiko) = accident/getting lost; 十分な (jūbun na) = sufficient.
局地的な集中豪雨により、都市部では河川の氾濫や土砂災害の危険性が指摘されている。
Localized torrential downpours by, urban areas in rivers' overflowing and landslides' danger pointed out is.
局地的 (kyokuchi teki) = localized; 集中豪雨 (shūchū gōu) = torrential downpour; 氾濫 (hanran) = overflowing; 土砂災害 (dosha saigai) = landslide/mud disaster.
彼女の言葉は、まるで天啓のように私の心に降り注ぎ、長年の疑問に終止符を打った。
Her words, just like divine revelation as if my heart into poured down, long-standing doubts on period put.
天啓 (tenkei) = divine revelation; 終止符を打つ (shūshifu o utsu) = to put an end to.
長期にわたる停滞前線の影響で、日本列島各地で記録的な豪雨が降り注ぎ、甚大な被害をもたらした。
Long-term stagnant front's influence by, Japanese archipelago various places record-breaking heavy rain poured down, immense damage brought.
停滞前線 (teitai zensen) = stagnant front; 甚大な (jindai na) = immense/enormous; もたらした (motarashita) = brought about.
彼は、かつて受けた屈辱の念を雪辱せんがため、並々ならぬ努力を重ね、ついに悲願を達成したのである。
He, formerly received humiliation's feeling avenge in order to, extraordinary effort accumulated, finally long-cherished wish achieved indeed.
屈辱の念 (kutsujoku no nen) = feeling of humiliation; 並々ならぬ (naminamiranu) = extraordinary; 悲願 (higan) = long-cherished wish.
予期せぬ大規模な降雪により、広範な地域で交通網が寸断され、孤立集落への支援物資輸送が喫緊の課題となった。
Unexpected large-scale snowfall by, wide areas transportation network severed, isolated settlements to aid supplies transport urgent issue became.
大規模な (daikibo na) = large-scale; 寸断される (sundan sareru) = to be severed; 喫緊の (kikkin no) = urgent.
その叙情詩は、あたかも冬眠から覚めた大地に雪解け水が豊かに染み渡り、生命の息吹が感じられるかのように、読者の心象風景に静謐な感動を呼び起こす。
That lyrical poem, just like hibernation from awakened earth snowmelt water richly permeates, life's breath is felt as if, reader's mental landscape to serene emotion evokes.
叙情詩 (jojōshi) = lyrical poem; 冬眠 (tōmin) = hibernation; 息吹 (ibuki) = breath/sign of life; 静謐な (seihitsu na) = serene/tranquil.
「降りかかる火の粉は払え」とは、すなわち、自己の身に降りかかるいかなる災厄も、ためらうことなく即座に対処すべきであるという、処世の要諦を示唆している。
'Falling sparks brush off' is, namely, oneself's body to fall any misfortune also, without hesitation immediately deal with should be that, life's essential principle suggesting is.
すなわち (sunawachi) = namely/that is; いかなる (ikanaru) = any/whatsoever; 災厄 (saiyaku) = calamity/disaster; 処世の要諦 (shosei no yōtei) = essential principle of life.
この亜高山帯では、冬季の積雪量が平均5メートルを超え、しばしば数週間にわたり交通が遮断されるため、住民は厳重な備えを余儀なくされる。
This subalpine zone in, winter's snow accumulation amount average 5 meters exceeds, often several weeks over traffic is blocked because, residents severe preparedness forced to.
亜高山帯 (ako zantai) = subalpine zone; 遮断される (shadan sareru) = to be blocked/cut off; 余儀なくされる (yogi naku sareru) = to be forced to.
局地的な線状降水帯の発生により、都市河川はかつてない水位まで増水し、広範囲な浸水被害と土砂災害のリスクが高まった。
Localized linear rainband's occurrence by, urban rivers unprecedented water level to rise, wide-ranging inundation damage and landslide risk increased.
線状降水帯 (senjō kōsui tai) = linear rainband; かつてない (katsutenai) = unprecedented; 浸水被害 (shin sui higai) = inundation damage.
彼女の語りは、あたかも神託が天から降り注ぐが如く、聴衆の魂の深淵に響き渡り、彼らの存在意義さえも揺るがすほどの感銘を与えた。
Her narration, just like oracle from heaven pours down as if, audience's soul's abyss into resonates, their existence meaning even shake enough impact gave.
神託 (shintaku) = oracle; 如く (gotoku) = as if (literary); 魂の深淵 (tamashii no shinen) = abyss of the soul; 存在意義 (sonzai igi) = meaning of existence.
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"雨降って地固まる"
After hardship or conflict, things become more stable and stronger.
会議で意見がぶつかったが、雨降って地固まる、で、より良い結論が出た。
neutral"降りかかる火の粉は払え"
Deal with any trouble or danger that comes your way immediately and decisively.
問題が大きくなる前に、降りかかる火の粉は払え、という教訓を忘れないでください。
neutral"雪辱を晴らす"
To avenge a past defeat or humiliation; to clear one's name.
彼は前回の敗北の雪辱を晴らすために、必死に練習した。
neutral"降り積もる (雪)"
Snow falling and piling up.
窓の外を見ると、雪が降り積もって一面銀世界になっていた。
neutral"降りかかる (迷惑・責任)"
Trouble or responsibility falling upon someone.
予期せず大きな責任が降りかかってきた。
neutral"雨が降るように"
Happening frequently or in large quantities, like rain falling.
彼のファンレターは雨が降るように届いた。
neutralEasily Confused
Same pronunciation (furu).
Means 'to shake', 'to wave', or 'to pour' (like sauce). The kanji are different (降 vs 振).
手を振る (te o furu - to wave a hand) vs. 雨が降る (ame ga furu - rain falls).
Both mean 'to fall'.
降る is specific to precipitation from the sky. 落ちる is general for anything falling or dropping.
雪が降る (yuki ga furu - snow falls) vs. ペンが落ちる (pen ga ochiru - a pen drops).
Opposite action (falling vs. rising).
降る means to fall. 昇る means to rise or ascend (like the sun or stairs).
太陽が昇る (taiyō ga noboru - the sun rises) vs. 雨が降る (ame ga furu - rain falls).
Similar meaning and kanji component.
降り注ぐ implies a more intense pouring or showering down, often used for heavy rain, strong sunlight, or blessings. 降る is more general.
雨が降り注ぐ (ame ga furisosogu - heavy rain pours down) vs. 雨が降る (ame ga furu - it rains).
Sentence Patterns
Noun (thing falling) + が + 降る。
雨が降る。(Ame ga furu.) - It rains.
Noun (thing falling) + が + 降る + Time/Place.
明日、雪が降るかもしれません。(Ashita, yuki ga furu kamoshiremasen.) - It might snow tomorrow.
Noun (thing falling) + が + 降る + Adverb (how).
ひどく雨が降った。(Hidoi ame ga futta.) - It rained heavily.
Noun (thing falling) + が + 降り積もる。
雪が降り積もった。(Yuki ga furi tsumotta.) - The snow piled up.
Noun (thing falling) + が + 降り出す。
急に雨が降り出した。(Kyū ni ame ga furi dashita.) - It suddenly started to rain.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Relacionado
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
落ちる is a general word for 'to fall' or 'drop.' While technically correct in some abstract sense, 降る is the specific and standard verb for precipitation.
降る is an intransitive verb. The thing that falls (rain, snow) is the subject, marked by が (ga), not the direct object marked by を (o).
Both are pronounced 'furu' but have different kanji and meanings. Context and kanji are crucial for differentiation.
降る means to fall or descend. Its antonyms relate to rising or ascending.
As a Group 1 verb, the stem changes from -u to -wa for the negative form (fura-nai).
Tips
Sound Association
Connect 'furu' to 'pour-oo' like rain pouring down, or 'furry' snow.
Weather Focus
Always think 'precipitation' when you see or hear 降る. It's the go-to verb for rain and snow.
Seasonal Importance
Rain and snow are vital in Japan. Understanding 降る is key to discussing seasons, festivals, and daily life.
Subject Particle 'ga'
Remember that what is falling (rain, snow) is the subject, so it's usually followed by が (ga).
Gentle 'R'
Practice the Japanese 'r' sound – it's a light tap, not a hard English 'r'.
Don't Mix with 落ちる
While both mean 'fall', reserve 降る for weather and 落ちる for general dropping.
Kanji Clue
The kanji 降 itself looks like something descending, giving you a visual clue to its meaning!
Weather Journal
Keep a simple daily weather journal in Japanese using 降る. '今日は雨が降っています。' (Today it is raining.)
Forecast Focus
Pay attention to weather forecasts (天気予報 - tenki yohō) in Japanese; you'll hear 降る constantly!
Verb Group 1
Remember 降る is a Group 1 verb, so its conjugations follow the pattern: furu -> furimasu, furu -> fura nai, furu -> futta.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'furu' sounding like 'furry' snow falling, or 'pour-oo' like rain pouring.
Visual Association
Imagine a cloud with raindrops or snowflakes actively 'falling' out of it.
Word Web
Desafío
Look outside your window and describe the weather using 'furu' if applicable. For example, '雨が降っています' (Ame ga futte imasu - It is raining).
Origen de la palabra
Japanese
Original meaning: To descend, to fall from above.
Contexto cultural
Weather can significantly impact daily life and livelihoods. Discussions about weather, especially extreme events, should be handled with empathy.
In English-speaking cultures, weather is a common topic of conversation. Phrases like 'It's raining cats and dogs' show creative ways to describe heavy rain.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Daily Weather Conversation
- 今日は雨が降っていますね。(Kyō wa ame ga futte imasu ne.) - It's raining today, isn't it?
- 明日は雪が降るそうです。(Ashita wa yuki ga furu sō desu.) - They say it will snow tomorrow.
- 傘を持っていったほうがいいよ。(Kasa o motte itta hou ga ii yo.) - You should take an umbrella.
Travel Planning
- 旅行中、雨が降らないといいですね。(Ryokōchū, ame ga fura nai to ii desu ne.) - I hope it doesn't rain during our trip.
- この時期は雪が降ることが多いですか？(Kono jiki wa yuki ga furu koto ga ooi desu ka?) - Does it snow often during this season?
Describing Past Events
- 昨日はひどい雨が降った。(Kinō wa hidoi ame ga futta.) - It rained heavily yesterday.
- 子供の頃、雪がたくさん降ったのを覚えています。(Kodomo no koro, yuki ga takusan futta no o oboete imasu.) - I remember when it snowed a lot when I was a child.
Figurative/Literary Use
- まるで花びらが降るようだ。(Marude hanabira ga furu yō da.) - It's like petals are falling.
- 彼の言葉は恵みの雨のように降ってきた。(Kare no kotoba wa megumi no ame no yō ni futte kita.) - His words came down like a blessing.
Conversation Starters
"What's the weather like today where you are? Does it 降る?"
"If it snows a lot (雪がたくさん降ったら - yuki ga takusan futtara), what do you like to do?"
"Do you prefer it when it rains (雨が降る - ame ga furu) or when it snows (雪が降る - yuki ga furu)?"
"Have you ever experienced hail falling (雹が降る - hyō ga furu)? What was it like?"
"What's your favorite season, and what kind of weather (降る or 晴れる) does it usually have?"
Journal Prompts
Describe the weather today using the verb 降る. If it's not raining or snowing, describe why it's *not* 降る.
Write about a memorable experience you had during heavy rain or snowfall. Use 降る in its past tense.
Imagine a fantastical scenario where something unusual falls from the sky. Use 降る to describe it.
Reflect on how the weather affects your mood. Does rain (雨) make you feel differently than snow (雪)?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntas降る is specifically used for precipitation like rain and snow falling from the sky. 落ちる is a general term for 'to fall' or 'drop' and can apply to many things, like a pen dropping or a person falling down.
Yes, but it's less common in everyday conversation. It can be used poetically or figuratively for things falling in abundance, like petals or blessings. For technical descending actions, 降下する (kōka suru) is often used.
You can say 「雨がたくさん降っています」 (Ame ga takusan futte imasu) or 「ひどい雨が降っています」 (Hidoi ame ga futte imasu).
The plain past tense is 降った (futta). The polite past tense is 降りました (furimashita).
Yes, you can say 雹が降る (hyō ga furu) for hail falling.
The kanji 降 means 'to descend' or 'to fall'. It visually represents something coming down from above.
Yes, very common ones are 雨が降る (ame ga furu - it rains) and 雪が降る (yuki ga furu - it snows). Also, idioms like 雨降って地固まる (ame futte ji katamaru).
The plain negative form is 降らない (fura nai). The polite negative form is 降りません (furimasen).
Ponte a prueba
今日は雨が ______。
雨 (rain) is something that falls, so we use 降る (furu).
Which sentence correctly describes snow falling?
雪 (snow) falls from the sky, so we use the verb 降る (furu).
The verb 降る (furu) can be used to describe the sun rising.
降る means to fall. The sun rising is described by 昇る (noboru).
Word
Significado
Matching the words with their meanings helps reinforce understanding.
The correct sentence is '雨が降る' (Ame ga furu - Rain falls), and '明日' (Ashita - tomorrow) modifies it. The full sentence is '明日は雨が降る' (Ashita wa ame ga furu).
昨夜はひどく ______。
The context implies heavy weather, likely rain or snow, so the past tense of 降る (furu), which is 降った (futta), is appropriate.
Which expression best describes snow piling up?
降り積もる (furi tsumoru) specifically means to fall and pile up, commonly used for snow.
The verb 降る (furu) can be used metaphorically to describe a shower of blessings.
Yes, in literary or poetic contexts, 降る can describe abstract things falling in abundance, like blessings (恵み - megumi).
空から ______ が降る。
Rain (雨 - ame) falls from the sky.
What is the polite past tense of 降る (furu)?
The polite past tense is formed by changing the stem to -i and adding -mashita, making it 降りました (furimashita).
Puntuación: /10
Summary
Mastering <strong>降る (furu)</strong> is essential for discussing weather, a fundamental topic in Japanese conversation.
- <strong>降る (furu)</strong> is the primary verb for precipitation (rain, snow, hail) falling from the sky.
- It is an intransitive verb, typically used with the particle <strong>が (ga)</strong>, e.g., <strong>雨が降る</strong> (ame ga furu).
- Common collocations include <strong>雨が降る</strong> and <strong>雪が降る</strong>.
- It can also be used figuratively for things falling abundantly, though this is less common in daily speech.
Sound Association
Connect 'furu' to 'pour-oo' like rain pouring down, or 'furry' snow.
Weather Focus
Always think 'precipitation' when you see or hear 降る. It's the go-to verb for rain and snow.
Seasonal Importance
Rain and snow are vital in Japan. Understanding 降る is key to discussing seasons, festivals, and daily life.
Subject Particle 'ga'
Remember that what is falling (rain, snow) is the subject, so it's usually followed by が (ga).
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