瑞雪
ruì xuě · HSK 7
snow
❄️🌾 瑞 auspicious + 雪 snow = a lucky, well-timed snowfall
From the farmers' proverb 瑞雪兆丰年: an auspicious snow foretells a good harvest. The snow comes at the right moment, blanketing winter wheat and killing pests, so it counts as a good omen rather than just cold weather.
雪 — rain 雨 + hand 彐 (originally broom 帚)
Originally an ideograph showing rain 雨 above a hand holding a broom, suggesting snow as 'rain that can be swept.' Over time the broom element simplified to 彐. The character has always meant snow, with later extended senses like 'to wipe away' (as in 雪恥, to wipe out shame).