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道Nihongo Path
霜

霜·frost

On-yomi
ソウ
Kun-yomi
しも

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

17 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
霜しもfrost
霜柱しもばしらneedle ice, frost columns
霜降りしもふりmarbled (meat)
初霜はつしもthe first frost of the season

Example sentences

  1. 朝、畑一面に霜が降りていた。

    あさ、はたけいちめんにしもがおりていた。

    In the morning frost lay all over the field.

  2. 霜降りの牛肉はとても高い。

    しもふりのぎゅうにくはとてもたかい。

    Marbled beef is very expensive.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • The set verb is 霜が降りる, not 霜が落ちる
  • 霜降り at a butcher's means marbling in the meat, not frost

Memory aid

Picture it

The rain radical 雨 over 相: frozen dew that settles on everything facing the night sky.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 霜 mean?