How to say "gale" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

暴風ぼうふうJLPT N1approx.Common
nounCovers 'gale' as a violent, storm-strength wind — a windstorm with destructive force. The word for gales that batter and damage, typical of weather reports and descriptions of storms.
その家いえは暴風ぼうふうの為ために屋根やねを剥ぎ取はぎとられた。↗
The house had its roof ripped off by the storm.
疾風しっぷうCommon
nounAlso renders 'gale', but with the nuance of a swift, powerful wind sweeping suddenly past rather than sheer destructive force. It is likewise the Beaufort-scale name for 'fresh breeze', giving it a meteorological use.

Use 暴風 for a gale in the sense of a violent, damaging storm wind; use 疾風 when the emphasis falls on a swift, strong wind, including its Beaufort-scale sense of 'fresh breeze'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

暴風ぼうふうstorm
疾風しっぷうgale
大風おおかぜgale
烈風れっぷうgale
ゲイルgale
陣風じんぷうgust
鎌風かまかぜsudden windstorm

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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