‘阵雨’ (zhèn yǔ) literally combines ‘阵’ (zhèn), meaning ‘a brief period’ or ‘a burst’, and ‘雨’ (yǔ), meaning ‘rain’. Together, it refers to a short-lived, often localized rain shower—typically lasting from a few minutes to about an hour—with varying intensity. Unlike steady, prolonged rainfall (e.g., ‘大雨’ or ‘小雨’), 阵雨 emphasizes sudden onset and cessation, commonly occurring during warm afternoons in spring or summer.

This term is widely used in weather forecasts, daily conversation, and written reports to describe intermittent precipitation. It implies unpredictability: the sky may clear quickly after the rain ends, sometimes with sunshine breaking through clouds (‘太阳雨’). While ‘雨’ alone is generic, adding ‘阵’ specifies brevity and spontaneity—making 阵雨 particularly useful for planning outdoor activities or describing fleeting atmospheric changes.