sin3霰
Jyutpingsin3
Yalesin
Definition
Graupel; soft hail or snow pellets consisting of white, opaque, spherical or conical ice particles.
neutralweathernature
How it's used
Graupel is distinct from snow because it consists of opaque, white ice pellets rather than delicate crystalline flakes. It typically forms when supercooled water droplets freeze onto falling snowflakes, creating a soft, crumbly structure that bounces upon impact. While often confused with hail, graupel is much smaller and usually occurs in colder, wintery conditions rather than during summer thunderstorms.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 霰 with 冰雹, but 冰雹 is hail, which is larger, harder, and usually associated with severe convective weather. Using 霰 to describe large, solid ice balls will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
