Meaning and Usage
"降水" (こうすい) specifically refers to precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail falling from the sky. It is a formal term often used in weather reports, scientific contexts, and official forecasts.
Common Contexts
You will frequently encounter "降水" in meteorological information, such as weather forecasts or climate studies. It is often paired with words like "確率" (probability), "量" (amount), and "予報" (forecast).
Collocations and Patterns
- 降水確率 (こうすいかくりつ): precipitation probability, used in weather forecasts to indicate the chance of rain or snow.
- 降水量 (こうすいりょう): amount of precipitation, used to describe how much rain or snow has fallen.
- 降水予報 (こうすいよほう): precipitation forecast, official prediction of upcoming rain or snow.
Register and Nuance
"降水" is a formal and technical term, not commonly used in casual conversation. Instead, people often say "雨" (rain) or "雪" (snow) directly. Using "降水" shows a more scientific or official tone.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "降水" with just "雨" (rain), but "降水" includes all forms of precipitation, not only rain. Remember that "降水" is a broader term encompassing rain, snow, and other types of moisture falling from the sky.