Chinese Weather Vocabulary: 60+ Words to Describe the Weather

Talking about the weather is one of the most common forms of small talk in any language, and Chinese is no exception. Whether you are traveling in China, watching a Chinese weather forecast, or simply chatting with a language partner, weather vocabulary comes up constantly. The word for weather itself is 天气 (tiānqì), literally "sky air," and once you learn the core terms in this guide, you will be able to describe sunny days, rainy afternoons, freezing winters, and everything in between. If you are just getting started with Mandarin, pair this guide with our Chinese for absolute beginners overview to build a strong foundation.

This article covers more than 60 weather-related words and phrases organized into practical categories. Each term includes the Chinese characters, pinyin with proper tone marks, and an English translation. By the end, you will also know how to form complete sentences about the weather and understand some cultural context behind how Chinese speakers discuss climate and seasons.

Basic Weather Conditions

These are the words you will reach for most often. They cover the full range of daily weather conditions, from clear skies to severe storms. Many of these appear at HSK 2 and HSK 3 levels, so mastering them early gives you a head start on vocabulary tests as well as real conversations. For a broader look at foundational vocabulary, see our list of common Chinese words.

A few usage notes on these terms. In Chinese, 下 (xià, "to fall") is used as a verb for both rain and snow: 下雨 means "rain falls" and 下雪 means "snow falls." Similarly, 刮 (guā, "to blow/scrape") is the verb that pairs with wind. You do not simply say "windy" as a standalone adjective the way English does; you say 刮风 (guā fēng), literally "blow wind." When describing a sunny day, you can say 今天是晴天 (jīntiān shì qíngtiān) — "Today is a sunny day."

The difference between 小雨 and 大雨 is straightforward: 小 means small and 大 means big. Chinese weather forecasts use these modifiers frequently, and you may also hear 中雨 (zhōng yǔ, "moderate rain") for conditions between light and heavy.

Temperature Words

Temperature is the other half of any weather conversation. These ten terms let you describe how hot or cold it is, ask about the forecast, and understand thermometer readings. Getting comfortable with tones is especially important here, since words like 度 (dù, degree) and 肚 (dù, belly) share the same pinyin but mean very different things.

China uses Celsius, so when someone says 三十五度 (sānshíwǔ dù), they mean 35 degrees Celsius, which is about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, northern cities can drop to 零下二十度 (língxià èrshí dù) — minus 20 degrees Celsius. The phrase 零下 literally means "below zero" and always precedes the number.

Note the subtle difference between 暖和 and 凉快. Both carry a positive connotation: 暖和 is the pleasant warmth you feel on a spring afternoon, while 凉快 is the refreshing coolness of an autumn breeze or air conditioning on a hot day. Neither word implies discomfort the way 热 (hot) or 冷 (cold) can.

Seasons and Climate

Seasons connect directly to weather, and Chinese has a neat, logical naming system for them. Each season name ends with 天 (tiān, "sky" or "day"), making them easy to remember as a set. For a deeper dive into time-related vocabulary including months, days, and more, check out our guide on Chinese days, months, and seasons.

The term 梅雨 (méiyǔ) refers to a specific weather phenomenon in central and eastern China, typically occurring in June and July. The name comes from 梅子 (méizi, "plum"), because this persistent rainy period coincides with the plum ripening season. During 梅雨, the air becomes extremely 潮湿 (cháoshī, humid), and mold can become a real problem — in fact, an alternate written form is 霉雨 (méiyǔ), using the character for "mold" instead of "plum."

Understanding the difference between 气候 (qìhòu, climate) and 天气 (tiānqì, weather) mirrors the English distinction: 天气 is what is happening outside right now, while 气候 describes the long-term patterns of a region. You might say 北京的气候很干燥 (Běijīng de qìhòu hěn gānzào) — "Beijing's climate is very dry."

Weather-Related Actions

Knowing weather words is only half the battle. You also need vocabulary for what people do in response to weather conditions. These action phrases combine clothing, equipment, and appliance vocabulary with weather contexts. If you want to expand your clothing-related terms further, our Chinese clothing vocabulary guide covers everything from jackets to accessories.

Pay attention to the verbs here. Chinese uses different verbs for different types of "wearing": 穿 (chuān) is for clothing you put on your body (jackets, raincoats, shirts), while 戴 (dài) is for accessories placed on your head, hands, or face (hats, gloves, glasses). This is a distinction that does not exist in English but is mandatory in Chinese.

The verb 打 (dǎ) in 打伞 literally means "to hit" or "to strike," but it is used idiomatically for opening and holding an umbrella. Similarly, 涂 (tú) means "to spread" or "to smear," which is the natural verb for applying cream or lotion. These verb-noun pairings are worth memorizing as fixed collocations rather than trying to construct them from scratch each time.

Useful Weather Phrases

With your vocabulary in place, here are ten complete sentences you can use in daily conversations. Practice reading them aloud to work on your tones and sentence rhythm.

1. Asking about the weather

今天天气怎么样？

Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?

"How is the weather today?"

This is the most common way to ask about the weather. You can swap 今天 for 明天 (míngtiān, "tomorrow") or any other time word.

2. Asking about rain

明天会下雨吗？

Míngtiān huì xià yǔ ma?

"Will it rain tomorrow?"

The word 会 (huì) here expresses possibility or likelihood, similar to "will" in English.

3. Expressing heat

好热啊！

Hǎo rè a!

"It's so hot!"

The pattern 好 + adjective + 啊 is a natural way to exclaim about conditions. You can substitute any weather adjective: 好冷啊 (hǎo lěng a, "So cold!"), 好舒服啊 (hǎo shūfu a, "So comfortable!").

4. Reporting current conditions

外面下大雨了。

Wàimiàn xià dà yǔ le.

"It's raining heavily outside."

The particle 了 (le) signals a change of state — the rain has started.

5. Citing the forecast

天气预报说明天是晴天。

Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān shì qíngtiān.

"The weather forecast says tomorrow will be sunny."

天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào) means "weather forecast" and is a useful compound to know.

6. Commenting on wind

今天风很大，要穿外套。

Jīntiān fēng hěn dà, yào chuān wàitào.

"The wind is strong today; you should wear a jacket."

7. Describing temperature

今天最高温三十二度。

Jīntiān zuìgāowēn sānshí'èr dù.

"Today's high is 32 degrees."

8. Talking about seasonal weather

北京的冬天又冷又干燥。

Běijīng de dōngtiān yòu lěng yòu gānzào.

"Beijing's winter is both cold and dry."

The 又...又... (yòu...yòu...) pattern means "both...and..." and is used to describe two simultaneous qualities.

9. Making plans around weather

如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。

Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bù qù le.

"If it rains tomorrow, we won't go."

The 如果...就... (rúguǒ...jiù...) structure is the standard "if...then..." pattern in Chinese.

10. Giving advice

太阳很大，记得涂防晒霜。

Tàiyáng hěn dà, jìde tú fángshàishuāng.

"The sun is intense; remember to apply sunscreen."

Cultural Note

Weather is a universal conversation starter, and Chinese culture is no exception. In China, asking 今天天气怎么样 (jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng) or commenting on the temperature is a perfectly natural way to begin a conversation with a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance. Unlike in some Western cultures where weather chat might feel like filler, in Chinese social contexts it often serves as a genuine expression of concern — especially from older generations who might follow up with advice like 多穿点 (duō chuān diǎn, "wear more layers") or 多喝水 (duō hē shuǐ, "drink more water").

Regional Climate Differences: North vs. South

China spans a vast range of climates, and the north-south divide is a constant topic of discussion among Chinese speakers. Northern China (北方, běifāng) is characterized by harsh, dry winters with temperatures regularly dropping to 零下 (língxià, below zero), and hot, relatively dry summers. Cities like Beijing and Harbin have central heating (暖气, nuǎnqì) built into buildings, which is activated by the government on a fixed date each autumn.

Southern China (南方, nánfāng) is warmer and more humid. Cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu experience milder winters but far more humidity (潮湿, cháoshī). The catch is that many southern buildings lack central heating, which leads to the famous joke that southerners are actually colder indoors during winter than northerners. This north-south heating line (秦岭-淮河线, Qínlǐng-Huáihé xiàn) is one of China's most discussed geographic boundaries.

The Concept of 上火

One weather-related cultural concept worth knowing is 上火 (shànghuǒ), which literally means "excessive internal fire." In traditional Chinese medicine, hot and dry weather, spicy food, or lack of sleep can cause your body to become "overheated," leading to symptoms like sore throats, dry lips, or acne. Chinese speakers might say 天气太干燥了，我上火了 (tiānqì tài gānzào le, wǒ shànghuǒ le) — "The weather is too dry, I have internal heat." The remedy is often to drink herbal tea (凉茶, liángchá) or eat cooling foods like watermelon and mung bean soup. Even if you do not subscribe to traditional Chinese medicine, understanding 上火 helps you follow everyday conversations about weather and health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say "How's the weather?" in Chinese?

The standard phrase is 今天天气怎么样？(Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?), which translates to "How is the weather today?" You can replace 今天 with other time words like 明天 (míngtiān, "tomorrow") or 这个周末 (zhège zhōumò, "this weekend"). This is one of the most practical phrases to learn early on, and you will find it in most HSK 1 study materials.

What HSK level covers weather vocabulary?

Basic weather words like 天气 (tiānqì), 下雨 (xià yǔ), and 冷 (lěng) appear at HSK 1 and HSK 2. More specific terms like 台风 (táifēng, "typhoon"), 气候 (qìhòu, "climate"), and 潮湿 (cháoshī, "humid") show up at HSK 4 and above. If you are preparing for the test, focus on the basic conditions and temperature words first, then expand into seasons and climate vocabulary as you advance.

What is the difference between 天气 and 气候?

天气 (tiānqì) refers to the weather at a specific time and place — what you see when you look out the window right now. 气候 (qìhòu) refers to the long-term weather patterns of a region, similar to the English distinction between "weather" and "climate." For example: 今天天气很好 (jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo, "The weather is nice today") describes a single day, while 昆明的气候四季如春 (Kūnmíng de qìhòu sìjì rú chūn, "Kunming's climate is like spring year-round") describes a general pattern.

How do Chinese weather forecasts describe temperatures?

Chinese weather forecasts use Celsius and typically report a high and low temperature for each day. You will hear phrases like 最高温三十度 (zuìgāowēn sānshí dù, "high of 30 degrees") and 最低温十五度 (zuìdīwēn shíwǔ dù, "low of 15 degrees"). Negative temperatures use 零下 (língxià) before the number: 零下十度 (língxià shí dù, "minus 10 degrees"). Weather apps and TV forecasts in China are a great immersion tool for practicing these numbers and terms in context.

How can I practice weather vocabulary daily?

One of the simplest methods is to describe the weather in Chinese each morning. Look outside, check a weather app set to a Chinese city, and try to form two or three sentences: 今天多云，气温二十度，有点儿凉快 (jīntiān duōyún, qìwēn èrshí dù, yǒudiǎnr liángkuai — "Today is partly cloudy, the temperature is 20 degrees, it's a bit cool"). You can also watch Chinese weather forecasts on YouTube or CCTV. Writing a short weather journal using flashcards for new terms will help cement the vocabulary over time.

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