Hello, I’m Kodak.
When people talk about early summer in Japan, you will often hear a special seasonal word:
Tsuyu
the rainy season
梅雨 (tsuyu) means Japan’s rainy season—the period from late spring into summer when rainy or cloudy days become frequent.
An individual rain shower is 雨 (ame). 梅雨 is the larger seasonal phenomenon and the period itself.
梅雨 (tsuyu) means “the rainy season.” It is the seasonal period when Japan commonly experiences more rain, cloud, humidity, and reduced sunshine while spring changes into summer.
The exact timing differs by region and year.
In this article, you will learn:
② why the same kanji may be read tsuyu or baiu
③ why the word literally contains “plum” and “rain”
④ what Japan’s rainy season is actually like
⑤ what 梅雨入り and 梅雨明け mean
⑥ why the rainy season does not begin on one exact day
⑦ how Japan’s regions differ, including Hokkaido and Okinawa
⑧ related words, conversations, examples, anime usage, and FAQ
What Does 梅雨 (Tsuyu) Mean?
梅雨 is a noun meaning the rainy season that appears from late spring into summer.
The Japan Meteorological Agency defines it as a phenomenon—or the period—when rainy and cloudy days frequently occur from late spring to summer.
⇒ the rainy season
⇒ the early-summer wet season
⇒ a period with frequent rainy or cloudy weather
⇒ the seasonal transition from spring toward summer
もうすぐ梅雨です。
Mōsugu tsuyu desu.
The rainy season will begin soon.
梅雨は雨の日が多い。
Tsuyu wa ame no hi ga ōi.
There are many rainy days during the rainy season.
今年の梅雨は長い。
Kotoshi no tsuyu wa nagai.
The rainy season is long this year.
There may be light rain, heavy rain, cloudy days, and even stretches of sunshine. The key idea is that rainy and cloudy weather becomes more frequent over a seasonal period.
Spring does not suddenly become summer. During the transition, clouds and rain repeatedly cover the region for an extended period.
How to Pronounce 梅雨: Tsuyu or Baiu?
Another reading: ばいう (baiu)
Kanji: 梅雨
Hiragana: つゆ
Romaji: tsuyu
Mora: つ・ゆ (2 morae)
When 梅雨 appears by itself in everyday conversation, it is normally read つゆ (tsuyu).
The reading ばいう (baiu) commonly appears in weather and technical compounds.
つゆ — the rainy season
梅雨前線
ばいうぜんせん — the seasonal rain front
梅雨期
ばいうき — the rainy-season period
梅雨性豪雨
ばいうせいごうう — heavy rain associated with the baiu season
For ordinary conversation, learn 梅雨 = tsuyu first. Recognize baiu mainly in compounds such as 梅雨前線.
Pronouncing Tsuyu
A short “tsu” sound.
ゆ (yu)
A short “yu” sound.
つ・ゆ
Two even Japanese beats: tsu-yu
Keep the two beats short and even: tsu-yu.
Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana Forms
Hiragana: つゆ
Katakana for emphasis: ツユ
Alternative historical spelling: 黴雨
The normal modern spelling is 梅雨.
plum; Japanese apricot
雨 (ame / u)
rain
梅雨
literally: “plum rain”
Another explanation connects the season with 黴 (kabi), meaning mold, because the humid weather encourages mold growth. Dictionaries usually present these as possible origins rather than one completely certain answer.
Why Is 梅雨 Read Tsuyu?
The kanji reading is unusual because neither 梅 nor 雨 is individually read tsu or yu in this word.
梅雨 is an example of 熟字訓 (jukujikun): a native Japanese word is assigned to an entire kanji combination rather than read character by character.
The characters express the meaning “plum rain.”
↓
The whole combination is given the native reading:
つゆ (tsuyu)
梅雨 = つゆ = the rainy season
Origin and Etymology of 梅雨
The word has long been associated with the extended rain that comes around the time plum fruit ripens in East Asia.
Japanese dictionaries commonly present two possible explanations for the written form:
Rain that falls around the time plum fruit ripens.
Explanation 2: 黴雨
“mold rain,” referring to the warm, humid period when mold grows easily.
The reading baiu reflects the Sino-Japanese readings of 梅 and 雨. The everyday reading tsuyu became established as the native Japanese name for the season.
What Is Japan’s Rainy Season Like?
During 梅雨, rainy or cloudy days become more frequent, sunshine tends to decrease, and humidity often rises.
・frequent rain or overcast skies
・high humidity
・muggy or damp-feeling air
・fewer hours of sunshine
・weather that changes from day to day
・periods of heavy rain in some regions
・occasional sunny breaks
梅雨はじめじめする。
Tsuyu wa jimejime suru.
The rainy season feels damp and clammy.
梅雨は洗濯物が乾きにくい。
Tsuyu wa sentakumono ga kawakinikui.
Laundry is difficult to dry during the rainy season.
梅雨は蒸し暑い日も多い。
Tsuyu wa mushiatsui hi mo ōi.
There are also many hot and humid days during the rainy season.
The expression 梅雨寒 (つゆざむ) describes unseasonably cool weather during the rainy season.
When Is the Rainy Season in Japan?
The timing changes by region and year. It generally begins earlier in southern areas and later as the seasonal pattern moves north.
The rainy-season period generally comes earlier than on the main islands.
Kyushu, Shikoku, Chūgoku, Kinki, Tōkai, and Kantō-Kōshin
The season commonly occurs from late spring or early summer into midsummer, but the exact timing varies.
Hokuriku and Tōhoku
The transition generally occurs later than in southern and central Japan.
Hokkaido
The Japan Meteorological Agency does not officially treat Hokkaido as having the same regular rainy-season phenomenon.
Okinawa and Amami usually experience it earlier, while northern regions generally experience it later.
Does Hokkaido Have Tsuyu?
The Japan Meteorological Agency does not issue official 梅雨入り or 梅雨明け information for Hokkaido.
The seasonal rain front often becomes unclear near Hokkaido. Some years do have stretches of rainy and cloudy weather that resemble the rainy season, but the year-to-year variation is too large for the agency to treat it as the same regular seasonal phenomenon.
What Do 梅雨入り and 梅雨明け Mean?
the beginning or onset of the rainy season
梅雨明け (tsuyuake)
the end of the rainy season
関東地方は梅雨入りした。
Kantō chihō wa tsuyuiri shita.
The rainy season has begun in the Kantō region.
沖縄は梅雨明けした。
Okinawa wa tsuyuake shita.
The rainy season has ended in Okinawa.
The announced date is expressed as “around” a certain day because the season does not switch on instantly.
Why Are 梅雨入り and 梅雨明け Dates Sometimes Revised?
The first announcement is based partly on the recent weather and the forecast for roughly the following week or beyond. After the season has passed, the Japan Meteorological Agency reviews the actual weather and publishes confirmed dates.
a preliminary value based on weather observed so far and the forecast
確定値 (kakuteichi)
a confirmed value decided later after reviewing the actual seasonal weather
What Is the 梅雨前線 (Baiu Zensen)?
梅雨前線 (baiu zensen) is the seasonal rain front often associated with rainy-season weather.
つゆ — the rainy season
前線
ぜんせん — weather front
梅雨前線
ばいうぜんせん — the seasonal rain front
The front forms where different air masses meet and can remain near Japan, producing extended cloudy and rainy conditions.
Even when the front is not clearly drawn, continued rainy weather can still be treated as part of 梅雨.
How to Use 梅雨 in Japanese Sentences
梅雨 is a noun. It does not conjugate like an adjective or verb.
1. 梅雨です: “It Is the Rainy Season”
今は梅雨です。
Ima wa tsuyu desu.
It is the rainy season now.
2. 梅雨に入る: “Enter the Rainy Season”
来週、梅雨に入りそうです。
Raishū, tsuyu ni hairisō desu.
It looks like the rainy season may begin next week.
3. 梅雨が明ける: “The Rainy Season Ends”
梅雨が明けたら、暑くなる。
Tsuyu ga aketara, atsuku naru.
It will become hot after the rainy season ends.
4. 梅雨の + Noun
the rainy-season period
梅雨の雨
rain during the rainy season
梅雨の天気
rainy-season weather
梅雨の湿気
rainy-season humidity
梅雨の晴れ間
a sunny break during the rainy season
5. 梅雨になる
梅雨になると、傘を使う日が増える。
Tsuyu ni naru to, kasa o tsukau hi ga fueru.
When the rainy season comes, there are more days when we use umbrellas.
Use expressions such as 梅雨です, 梅雨の天気, 梅雨に入る, or adjectives such as 蒸し暑い and じめじめしている.
梅雨 vs 雨: What Is the Difference?
rain itself; a rainy event or precipitation
梅雨 (tsuyu)
the seasonal period when rainy and cloudy days become frequent
雨が降っている。
Ame ga futte iru.
It is raining.
今は梅雨です。
Ima wa tsuyu desu.
It is the rainy season now.
Tsuyu vs Rainy Season vs Monsoon
The safest English translation of 梅雨 is “the rainy season.”
The clearest general translation.
early-summer rainy season
Useful when distinguishing it from other wet periods.
baiu season
A technical or specialist term.
monsoon season
Sometimes used broadly, but it may suggest a wider climatic system than the ordinary Japanese word 梅雨.
“Monsoon” may be useful in specialist climate explanations, but it is not the simplest one-to-one translation.
梅雨 vs 長雨 vs 五月雨
the early-summer rainy season
長雨 (nagaame)
rain that continues for many days; prolonged rain in any season
五月雨 (samidare)
an older or literary word traditionally referring to rainy-season rain; also used figuratively for something occurring intermittently
梅雨に入った。
The rainy season has begun.
長雨で川の水が増えた。
Nagaame de kawa no mizu ga fueta.
The prolonged rain raised the river level.
五月雨が続く。
Samidare ga tsuzuku.
The early-summer rains continue.
In everyday modern speech, 梅雨 is much more useful for beginners.
Useful Words Related to 梅雨
梅雨入り (Tsuyuiri): The Beginning of the Rainy Season
昨日、梅雨入りした。
Kinō, tsuyuiri shita.
The rainy season began yesterday.
梅雨明け (Tsuyuake): The End of the Rainy Season
梅雨明けが待ち遠しい。
Tsuyuake ga machidōshii.
I cannot wait for the rainy season to end.
梅雨前線 (Baiu Zensen): The Seasonal Rain Front
梅雨前線が停滞している。
Baiu zensen ga teitai shite iru.
The seasonal rain front is stationary.
梅雨の中休み (Tsuyu no Nakayasumi): A Break in the Rainy Season
This means a period of relatively clear weather during the rainy season.
今日は梅雨の中休みで晴れている。
Kyō wa tsuyu no nakayasumi de harete iru.
Today is a sunny break in the rainy season.
梅雨晴れ (Tsuyubare): Clear Weather During the Rainy Season
久しぶりの梅雨晴れだ。
Hisashiburi no tsuyubare da.
It is the first clear spell during the rainy season in a while.
梅雨空 (Tsuyuzora): A Rainy-Season Sky
梅雨空 describes a dark, cloudy sky typical of the rainy season.
梅雨空が続いている。
Tsuyuzora ga tsuzuite iru.
The overcast rainy-season skies are continuing.
空梅雨 (Karatsuyu): A Rainy Season with Little Rain
今年は空梅雨だった。
Kotoshi wa karatsuyu datta.
The rainy season had little rain this year.
走り梅雨 (Hashirizuyu): Rainy Weather Before the Official Season
This refers to unsettled, rainy weather that appears before the main rainy season.
戻り梅雨 (Modorizuyu): Rain Returning After the Season Seems Over
This describes rainy weather returning after the rainy season has apparently ended.
梅雨寒 (Tsuyuzamu): Cool Weather During the Rainy Season
今日は梅雨寒で少し肌寒い。
Kyō wa tsuyuzamu de sukoshi hadasamui.
It is unseasonably cool and a little chilly today.
梅雨 — the rainy season
梅雨入り — the rainy season begins
梅雨明け — the rainy season ends
Then add 梅雨前線 when you begin reading weather reports.
Words for the Feeling of Tsuyu Weather
to feel damp, clammy, or unpleasantly humid
むしむしする (mushimushi suru)
to feel muggy
蒸し暑い (mushiatsui)
hot and humid
湿気が多い (shikke ga ōi)
there is a lot of humidity
どんよりしている (donyori shite iru)
to be gloomy and heavily overcast
梅雨はじめじめして苦手です。
Tsuyu wa jimejime shite nigate desu.
I do not like the rainy season because it feels damp and clammy.
今日はむしむしする。
Kyō wa mushimushi suru.
It feels muggy today.
雨がやんだら蒸し暑くなった。
Ame ga yandara mushiatsuku natta.
It became hot and humid after the rain stopped.
Conversation Examples
Talking About the Season
Nihon wa mō tsuyu desu ka?
Is it already the rainy season in Japan?
B: 関東は先週、梅雨入りしました。
Kantō wa senshū, tsuyuiri shimashita.
The rainy season began in Kantō last week.
Planning an Outing
Konshūmatsu, haikingu ni ikanai?
Would you like to go hiking this weekend?
B: 梅雨だから、天気予報を確認しよう。
Tsuyu da kara, tenki yohō o kakunin shiyō.
It is the rainy season, so let’s check the forecast.
Doing Laundry
Sentakumono ga zenzen kawakanai.
The laundry will not dry at all.
B: 梅雨だから仕方ないね。
Tsuyu da kara shikata nai ne.
It cannot be helped because it is the rainy season.
Waiting for Summer
Itsu tsuyu ga akeru kana.
I wonder when the rainy season will end.
B: 梅雨が明けたら、本格的な夏だね。
Tsuyu ga aketara, honkakuteki na natsu da ne.
Once the rainy season ends, real summer begins.
A Cool Rainy-Season Day
Kyō wa omotta yori samui ne.
It is colder than I expected today.
B: 梅雨寒だね。上着を持ってくればよかった。
Tsuyuzamu da ne. Uwagi o motte kureba yokatta.
It is one of those cool rainy-season days. I should have brought a jacket.
Natural Example Sentences with 梅雨
日本には梅雨があります。
Nihon ni wa tsuyu ga arimasu.
Japan has a rainy season.
梅雨は雨や曇りの日が多い。
Tsuyu wa ame ya kumori no hi ga ōi.
There are many rainy and cloudy days during the rainy season.
今年は梅雨入りが早かった。
Kotoshi wa tsuyuiri ga hayakatta.
The rainy season began early this year.
梅雨明けはまだですか？
Tsuyuake wa mada desu ka?
Has the rainy season not ended yet?
梅雨になると湿度が上がる。
Tsuyu ni naru to shitsudo ga agaru.
Humidity rises when the rainy season comes.
梅雨の時期は傘が手放せない。
Tsuyu no jiki wa kasa ga tebanasenai.
I cannot go without an umbrella during the rainy season.
梅雨は洗濯物が乾きにくい。
Tsuyu wa sentakumono ga kawakinikui.
Laundry is difficult to dry during the rainy season.
梅雨の晴れ間に散歩した。
Tsuyu no harema ni sanpo shita.
I went for a walk during a sunny break in the rainy season.
梅雨前線の影響で大雨になった。
Baiu zensen no eikyō de ōame ni natta.
The seasonal rain front caused heavy rain.
梅雨が明けると暑い夏が始まる。
Tsuyu ga akeru to atsui natsu ga hajimaru.
A hot summer begins when the rainy season ends.
今年の梅雨は雨が少ない。
Kotoshi no tsuyu wa ame ga sukunai.
There is little rain during this year’s rainy season.
梅雨の湿気で髪がまとまらない。
Tsuyu no shikke de kami ga matomaranai.
The rainy-season humidity makes my hair difficult to manage.
梅雨時は食べ物の保存に気をつける。
Tsuyudoki wa tabemono no hozon ni ki o tsukeru.
I am careful about food storage during the rainy season.
沖縄は本州より早く梅雨に入る。
Okinawa wa Honshū yori hayaku tsuyu ni hairu.
Okinawa enters the rainy season earlier than Honshu.
北海道では梅雨入りの発表をしない。
Hokkaidō de wa tsuyuiri no happyō o shinai.
Official rainy-season entry announcements are not issued for Hokkaido.
梅雨でも毎日雨が降るわけではない。
Tsuyu demo mainichi ame ga furu wake de wa nai.
It does not rain every day even during the rainy season.
How 梅雨 Appears in Anime, Manga, and Everyday Culture
梅雨 is an ordinary seasonal word, not anime slang. In anime, manga, novels, and dramas, it often helps establish an early-summer atmosphere.
Rain again? I do not like the rainy season.
梅雨が明けたら海に行こう。
Let’s go to the beach after the rainy season ends.
梅雨の晴れ間だ！
It is a sunny break in the rainy season!
この雨、いつまで続くんだろう。
I wonder how long this rain will continue.
Visual symbols frequently associated with the season include:
・hydrangeas
・wet streets and train platforms
・frogs and snails
・laundry drying indoors
・cloudy school mornings
・the anticipation of summer after 梅雨明け
Why Is the Rainy Season Important?
The rainy season can be inconvenient, but it also supplies important water for agriculture and daily life.
・water for crops
・water stored for the hotter summer season
・support for reservoirs and water resources
・seasonal growth of plants
Risks and difficulties
・heavy-rain disasters
・flooding and landslides
・high humidity and mold
・difficult laundry drying
・travel disruption
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Translating 梅雨 as One Rainy Day
rain; an individual rainy event
梅雨
the rainy-season phenomenon or period
Mistake 2: Reading Every 梅雨 Compound as Tsuyu
梅雨入り ⇒ つゆいり
梅雨明け ⇒ つゆあけ
梅雨前線 ⇒ ばいうぜんせん
Mistake 3: Assuming the Season Has Fixed Dates
The timing varies by year and region. Entry and exit occur through a transition period rather than at one exact moment.
Mistake 4: Assuming It Rains Every Day
The season includes cloudy weather, intermittent rain, heavy-rain periods, and sunny breaks.
Mistake 5: Saying Hokkaido Has an Official Tsuyu Season
Hokkaido may experience rainy spells, but the Japan Meteorological Agency does not officially treat it as having the same regular rainy-season phenomenon.
Mistake 6: Calling Tsuyu “Typhoon Season”
梅雨 and typhoons are different phenomena, although storms may influence weather during the broader warm season.
Mistake 7: Using 梅雨 as an Adjective
梅雨 is a noun. Use 梅雨の天気, 梅雨です, or a descriptive word such as じめじめする.
FAQ About 梅雨
What does tsuyu mean in Japanese?
梅雨 (tsuyu) means “the rainy season,” the period from late spring into summer when rainy and cloudy days become frequent.
How do you write tsuyu in Japanese?
It is normally written 梅雨. The hiragana form is つゆ.
Why does 梅雨 mean “plum rain”?
One common explanation is that the rains arrive around the time plums ripen. Another possible origin connects the season with mold, written 黴雨, because of the high humidity.
Is 梅雨 pronounced tsuyu or baiu?
When the word stands alone, it is normally read tsuyu. The reading baiu often appears in technical compounds such as 梅雨前線 (baiu zensen).
When is the rainy season in Japan?
The timing differs by region and year. It generally occurs earlier in Okinawa and Amami, later across the main islands, and still later toward Tōhoku.
Does Hokkaido have a rainy season?
The Japan Meteorological Agency does not officially treat Hokkaido as having the same regular rainy-season phenomenon, although some years have rainy and cloudy periods that resemble it.
Does it rain every day during tsuyu?
No. The season can include rain, cloud, heavy-rain events, and sunny breaks. It means rainy and cloudy weather is more frequent overall.
What is 梅雨入り?
梅雨入り (tsuyuiri) means the beginning or onset of the rainy season.
What is 梅雨明け?
梅雨明け (tsuyuake) means the end of the rainy season.
What is 梅雨前線?
梅雨前線 (baiu zensen) is the seasonal rain front often associated with rainy-season weather.
Is tsuyu the same as a monsoon?
“Rainy season” is the safest general translation. The baiu season is related to the wider East Asian seasonal climate system, but “monsoon” can be broader than the everyday word 梅雨.
What is the weather like during tsuyu?
Rainy and cloudy days are frequent, humidity is often high, and the weather may feel muggy, damp, or occasionally cool.
Is 梅雨 a Japanese season?
It is an important seasonal period between spring and summer, although it is not one of the traditional four seasons.
What is the difference between 梅雨 and 雨?
雨 means rain itself. 梅雨 means the rainy-season period or seasonal phenomenon.
Related Japanese Rainy-Season Vocabulary
梅雨明け (tsuyuake) — end of the rainy season
梅雨前線 (baiu zensen) — seasonal rain front
梅雨時 (tsuyudoki) — the rainy-season period
梅雨空 (tsuyuzora) — overcast rainy-season sky
梅雨晴れ (tsuyubare) — clear weather during the rainy season
梅雨の中休み (tsuyu no nakayasumi) — a break in the rainy season
空梅雨 (karatsuyu) — a rainy season with little rain
走り梅雨 (hashirizuyu) — rainy weather before the main rainy season
戻り梅雨 (modorizuyu) — rainy weather returning after the season seems over
梅雨寒 (tsuyuzamu) — unseasonably cool rainy-season weather
長雨 (nagaame) — prolonged rain
五月雨 (samidare) — traditional early-summer rain
湿気 (shikke) — humidity; moisture
蒸し暑い (mushiatsui) — hot and humid
じめじめする (jimejime suru) — feel damp and clammy
大雨 (ōame) — heavy rain
豪雨 (gōu) — torrential rain
梅雨 ⇒ rainy season
梅雨入り ⇒ rainy season begins
梅雨明け ⇒ rainy season ends
梅雨前線 ⇒ seasonal rain front
蒸し暑い ⇒ hot and humid
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of 梅雨
梅雨 means “the rainy season,” when rainy and cloudy days frequently occur from late spring into summer.
● Reading
梅雨 by itself = つゆ (tsuyu)
Technical compounds may use ばいう (baiu), as in 梅雨前線.
● Writing
Kanji: 梅雨
Hiragana: つゆ
Romaji: tsuyu
● Literal image
梅 = plum
雨 = rain
梅雨 = “plum rain,” traditionally connected with the season when plums ripen.
● Important phrases
梅雨入り = beginning of the rainy season
梅雨明け = end of the rainy season
梅雨前線 = seasonal rain front
● Regional point
The timing differs by region and year. The Japan Meteorological Agency does not officially announce a rainy season for Hokkaido.
● Main difference
雨 = rain itself
梅雨 = the rainy-season period or phenomenon
Spring → 梅雨 → Summer
Cloud and rain repeatedly cover the region while spring gradually changes into summer.
References
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Questions About Tsuyu — official definition, regional announcements, transition periods, preliminary and confirmed dates, Hokkaido, and the rain front.
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Seasonal Terminology — official usage of 梅雨, つゆ, ばいう, and related terms.
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Historical Rainy-Season Entry and Exit Dates — regional records and the description of the seasonal transition.
- Kotobank: 梅雨 — dictionary meanings, readings, possible origins, and related expressions.
- Kotobank Progressive Japanese–English Dictionary: 梅雨 — “the rainy season,” usage, water resources, humidity, and natural English examples.
- Kanjipedia: 〈梅雨〉 — reading and the plum-ripening explanation.