Learning to talk about the weather in any language is essential because it’s a universal topic that comes up in everyday conversations. Whether you’re discussing your plans for the weekend, commenting on the day’s weather with a friend, or planning a trip, knowing how to describe the weather is crucial. In Chinese, weather vocabulary can range from the very simple to more advanced and nuanced expressions, making it an ideal way to improve your overall fluency.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures to help you confidently describe the weather in Chinese. We’ll also highlight cultural nuances and practices tied to weather in China, so that you can use this knowledge effectively in conversation. And if you want to further enhance your Chinese language skills, consider signing up for our Chinese courses at the NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo. You can register for a course using this link.
1. Basic Weather Vocabulary in Chinese
To start, let’s cover the essential weather vocabulary in Chinese that you’ll need to form basic sentences. These are words you’ll encounter frequently, whether you’re watching the weather forecast, talking to friends, or reading the news.
Key Weather Terms
- Weather (天气, tiān qì): The most fundamental word for talking about weather. For example, “今天的天气很好” (jīn tiān de tiān qì hěn hǎo) means “The weather today is nice.”
- Temperature (温度, wēn dù): Refers to how hot or cold it is. “今天的温度是多少?” (jīn tiān de wēn dù shì duō shǎo?) means “What is the temperature today?”
- Hot (热, rè): “今天很热” (jīn tiān hěn rè) translates to “Today is very hot.”
- Cold (冷, lěng): “今天很冷” (jīn tiān hěn lěng) means “Today is very cold.”
- Warm (暖, nuǎn): “今天很暖” (jīn tiān hěn nuǎn) means “Today is warm.”
- Cool (凉, liáng): “今天很凉” (jīn tiān hěn liáng) means “Today is cool.”
Describing the Sky
- Sun (太阳, tài yáng): You can say “太阳很大” (tài yáng hěn dà) to mean “The sun is shining brightly.”
- Cloudy (多云, duō yún): “今天多云” (jīn tiān duō yún) means “It’s cloudy today.”
- Clear Sky (晴天, qíng tiān): “今天是晴天” (jīn tiān shì qíng tiān) translates to “Today is a sunny day.”
Precipitation
- Rain (雨, yǔ): “今天下雨” (jīn tiān xià yǔ) means “It is raining today.”
- Snow (雪, xuě): “明天会下雪” (míng tiān huì xià xuě) means “It will snow tomorrow.”
- Drizzle (毛毛雨, máo máo yǔ): Refers to light rain. “今天下毛毛雨” (jīn tiān xià máo máo yǔ) means “It is drizzling today.”
Wind and Storms
- Wind (风, fēng): “今天有风” (jīn tiān yǒu fēng) means “It is windy today.”
- Strong Wind (大风, dà fēng): “今天刮大风” (jīn tiān guā dà fēng) means “There is strong wind today.”
- Thunderstorm (雷暴, léi bào): “今晚有雷暴” (jīn wǎn yǒu léi bào) means “There will be thunderstorms tonight.”
Other Weather Conditions
- Fog (雾, wù): “今天有雾” (jīn tiān yǒu wù) means “It is foggy today.”
- Humid (潮湿, cháo shī): “今天很潮湿” (jīn tiān hěn cháo shī) means “Today is very humid.”
- Dry (干燥, gān zào): “今天很干燥” (jīn tiān hěn gān zào) translates to “It is dry today.”
Now that we have a solid foundation of weather-related vocabulary, let’s move on to how we can use these terms in meaningful, everyday sentences.
2. Forming Sentences to Describe the Weather
Once you’re comfortable with basic vocabulary, it’s time to use it in full sentences. Here are a few common structures you can follow to talk about different types of weather in Chinese.
Describing Today’s Weather
- Today’s Weather is Sunny: “今天是晴天” (jīn tiān shì qíng tiān).
- Today is Cloudy: “今天多云” (jīn tiān duō yún).
- It’s Raining Today: “今天下雨” (jīn tiān xià yǔ).
Asking About the Weather
- What is the weather like today?
- “今天的天气怎么样?” (jīn tiān de tiān qì zěn me yàng?)
- Will it rain tomorrow?
- “明天会下雨吗?” (míng tiān huì xià yǔ ma?)
- How hot is it today?
- “今天有多热?” (jīn tiān yǒu duō rè?)
Talking About Temperature
- It’s very hot today: “今天很热” (jīn tiān hěn rè).
- The temperature today is 25 degrees Celsius: “今天的温度是25度” (jīn tiān de wēn dù shì 25 dù).
Predicting the Weather
- It will rain tomorrow: “明天会下雨” (míng tiān huì xià yǔ).
- It’s going to snow next week: “下周会下雪” (xià zhōu huì xià xuě).
These simple sentence structures will help you start speaking about the weather in a natural and useful way, whether you’re just commenting on the day’s conditions or preparing for the next few days.
3. Advanced Weather Vocabulary in Chinese
For learners who want to go beyond the basics and explore more complex weather expressions, there are several useful terms and phrases that can deepen your understanding of weather-related conversations.
Seasonal Changes
In Chinese culture, weather and seasonal changes play an important role in daily life. Knowing how to discuss the four seasons is essential:
- Spring (春天, chūn tiān): A typical phrase is “春暖花开” (chūn nuǎn huā kāi), meaning “spring is warm, and flowers are blooming.”
- Summer (夏天, xià tiān): You could say, “夏天很热” (xià tiān hěn rè), meaning “summer is very hot.”
- Autumn (秋天, qiū tiān): In autumn, you can use the phrase “秋高气爽” (qiū gāo qì shuǎng), meaning “the sky is high, and the air is crisp.”
- Winter (冬天, dōng tiān): In winter, people often say “冬天很冷” (dōng tiān hěn lěng), meaning “winter is very cold.”
Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
If you want to talk about more extreme weather conditions, such as natural disasters, here are some terms that might be helpful:
- Flood (洪水, hóng shuǐ): “洪水导致了很多损失” (hóng shuǐ dǎo zhì le hěn duō sǔn shī) means “The flood caused a lot of damage.”
- Typhoon (台风, tái fēng): “台风很常见” (tái fēng hěn cháng jiàn) means “Typhoons are common.”
- Earthquake (地震, dì zhèn): “最近发生了地震” (zuì jìn fā shēng le dì zhèn) means “An earthquake occurred recently.”
Describing Wind and Storms in Detail
While basic terms like “wind” (风, fēng) and “storm” (暴风雨, bào fēng yǔ) are helpful, you can also go deeper into describing how intense these weather conditions are:
- Gale-force winds (大风, dà fēng): “今天刮大风” (jīn tiān guā dà fēng) means “It’s very windy today.”
- Hailstorm (冰雹, bīng báo): “昨天下了冰雹” (zuó tiān xià le bīng báo) means “It hailed yesterday.”
4. Cultural Nuances of Weather in China
In Chinese culture, weather is often more than just a topic of small talk—it can be deeply intertwined with traditional beliefs, philosophy, and even proverbs. Here are a few key aspects of Chinese culture related to weather:
The Five Elements and Weather
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) associates different weather patterns with the five elements (五行, wǔ xíng): Wood (木, mù), Fire (火, huǒ), Earth (土, tǔ), Metal (金, jīn), and Water (水, shuǐ). Each element is believed to influence the human body in unique ways, and changes in the weather can trigger shifts in health according to these beliefs.
For example, wind (风, fēng) is associated with Wood, and changes in the wind are thought to influence ailments such as colds or joint pain.
Weather Proverbs
Weather-related proverbs are common in Chinese and often reflect deep wisdom or observations about life. For instance:
- 风和日丽 (fēng hé rì lì): This proverb describes a beautiful day with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine.
- 风雨同舟 (fēng yǔ tóng zhōu): Literally meaning “in the same boat through wind and rain,” this expression highlights solidarity and mutual support during difficult times.
Seasonal Festivals and Weather
Certain traditional festivals in China are closely tied to seasonal weather changes. For example, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, duān wǔ jié) is held during the humid and rainy season of early summer. Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, zhōng qiū jié) takes place in the fall, when the weather is cool and the moon is bright.
5. Expanding Your Weather Vocabulary Through Practice
The key to mastering weather vocabulary in Chinese is practice. Here are some tips on how to expand your skills:
- Watch Weather Reports in Chinese: Tune into weather forecasts on Chinese television channels or use weather apps in Chinese to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and pronunciation.
- Practice Daily: Every day, try to describe the weather where you are in Chinese. This will not only reinforce your vocabulary but also help you speak naturally.
- Read the News: Read articles about weather and climate in Chinese newspapers or on news websites. This will give you context and introduce you to new vocabulary.
- Join a Chinese Language Course: To take your Chinese skills to the next level, consider enrolling in Chinese language classes. At NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo, we offer comprehensive courses that will help you master the intricacies of the Chinese language, including practical conversations about the weather. You can sign up here.
Conclusion
Describing the weather in Chinese is a fundamental skill that can enhance your communication in everyday life. Whether you’re planning your day, chatting with friends, or discussing current events, weather vocabulary is indispensable. With a solid understanding of the basic and advanced terms, you’ll be able to describe sunny, rainy, and windy days with ease—and even talk about more severe weather conditions like storms or typhoons.
Additionally, understanding the cultural nuances of weather in Chinese society will enrich your conversations and deepen your appreciation for the language. With regular practice and immersion, you can continue to improve your fluency and confidently engage in weather-related conversations.
If you’re interested in learning more and becoming proficient in Chinese, consider joining our language courses at the NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo. Click here to register today!
