How to say "storm" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday native word for a storm as a violent weather event; the usual choice in most contexts, and also used figuratively for an overwhelming rush of something, such as applause or criticism.この風は嵐の印だ。↗This wind is a sign of a storm.
- nounThe English loanword. It is seldom the word you want for an actual weather storm — あらし is the everyday choice — and it mainly appears inside borrowed expressions rather than on its own.
- 暴風ぼうふうnounEmphasizes violently strong wind — a windstorm or gale. Use it when the wind itself is the defining feature, as in weather reporting, rather than the rain that may come with a storm.
- 息巻くいきまくgodan verb, intransitive verbA verb, not a weather word: it means to rage or storm at someone, to be furious. Use it for a person raging or fuming at another in anger, matching English 'storm (at)'.かんかんになって息巻いている。↗He is fuming that they will be sorry for it some day.
- 暴風雨ぼうふううnounA storm of violent wind and heavy rain together — a rainstorm. The natural word when both elements are meant, such as the wind and rain that a typhoon brings.
Use 「あらし」 for a storm in general, 暴風 when violent wind is the point, 暴風雨 for wind plus rain, 「ストーム」 mostly in borrowed expressions, and 「息巻く」 only for a person storming at someone in anger.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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