130+ Vocabulary about Weather in Chinese with Useful Conversations
Understanding weather in Chinese is not just about knowing individual words—it's about building practical vocabulary and confidently using it in everyday conversations. From reporting conditions to discussing extreme weather, this guide will give you comprehensive access to over 130 Chinese words and expressions used for weather, along with essential, real-life phrases.
I. Top Common Vocabulary about Weather in Chinese
The first step in mastering weather in Chinese starts with learning basic yet highly functional vocabulary. This section introduces you to the most commonly used terms across weather reports, descriptions, and general conversation.
1. General Vocabulary about Weather in Chinese Forecasts
You often hear standard terms in weather forecasts or daily weather updates. These terms describe conditions, temperatures, and changes.
|
No. |
Weather in Chinese |
Pinyin |
English Meaning |
|
1 |
天气 |
tiānqì |
Weather |
|
2 |
气候 |
qìhòu |
Climate |
|
3 |
暖和 |
nuǎnhuo |
Warm |
|
4 |
淋湿 |
línshī |
Soaked / Wet |
|
5 |
黑夜 |
hēiyè |
Nighttime / Darkness |
|
6 |
白天 |
báitiān |
Daytime |
|
7 |
彩虹 |
cǎihóng |
Rainbow |
|
8 |
天气预报 |
tiānqì yùbào |
Weather forecast |
|
9 |
风 |
fēng |
Wind |
|
10 |
冰冷 |
bīnglěng |
Ice-cold / Freezing cold |
|
11 |
凉快 |
liángkuai |
Cool (pleasant) |
|
12 |
下雨 |
xiàyǔ |
To rain / Raining |
|
13 |
太阳雨 |
tàiyángyǔ |
Sunshower |
|
14 |
温度 / 气温….度 |
wēndù / qìwēn….dù |
Temperature...degrees |
|
15 |
热带 |
rèdài |
Tropical / Tropics |
|
16 |
湿度 |
shìdù |
Humidity |
Whether you're watching the news or checking an app, these words help you understand what lies ahead in the day.
2. Vocabulary for Weather Phenomena in Chinese
Natural occurrences and changes in the sky define much of our discussions around weather. These vocabulary terms about weather in Chinese describe common physical states and phenomena, including rain in Chinese.
|
No. |
Weather in Chinese |
Pinyin |
English Meaning |
|
Cold Weather in Chinese |
|||
|
1 |
冰 |
bīng |
Ice |
|
2 |
冰柱 |
bīng zhù |
Icicle |
|
3 |
雪花 |
xuěhuā |
Snowflake |
|
4 |
雨夹雪 |
yǔ jiā xuě |
Sleet |
|
5 |
雪 |
xuě |
Snow |
|
6 |
下雪 |
xiàxuě |
Snowing |
|
7 |
霜 |
shuāng |
Frost |
|
8 |
雾 |
wù |
Fog |
|
9 |
冷 |
lěng |
Cold |
|
Hot Weather in Chinese |
|||
|
10 |
热 |
rè |
Hot |
|
11 |
闷 |
mèn |
Stuffy / Humid and oppressive |
|
12 |
温带 |
wēndài |
Temperate zone |
|
13 |
阳光明媚 |
yángguāng míngmèi |
Bright and sunny |
|
14 |
晴天 |
qíngtiān |
Sunny / Clear day |
|
15 |
晒 |
shài |
To shine (sunlight) / To sunbathe |
|
Rain and Storms Weather in Chinese |
|||
|
16 |
阵风 |
zhènfēng |
Gust (of wind) |
|
17 |
风 |
fēng |
Wind |
|
18 |
大风 |
dàfēng |
Strong wind |
|
19 |
刮风 |
guā fēng |
To be windy |
|
20 |
微风 |
wēifēng |
Breeze |
|
21 |
狂风 |
kuángfēng |
Gale / Torrential wind |
|
22 |
暴风 |
bàofēng |
Storm |
|
23 |
雷 |
léi |
Thunder |
|
24 |
打雷 |
dǎléi |
To thunder |
|
25 |
彩虹 |
cǎihóng |
Rainbow |
|
26 |
闪电 |
shǎndiàn |
Lightning |
|
27 |
雨滴 |
yǔ dī |
Raindrop |
|
28 |
雨 |
yǔ |
Rain |
|
29 |
下雨 |
xià yǔ |
To rain |
|
30 |
毛毛雨 |
máomaoyǔ |
Drizzle |
|
31 |
阵雨 |
zhènyǔ |
Shower (rain) |
|
32 |
冰雹 |
bīngbáo |
Hail |
|
33 |
洪水 |
hóngshuǐ |
Flood |
|
Other Weather Phenomena |
|||
|
34 |
湿润 |
shīrùn |
Humid / Moist |
|
35 |
雾气 |
wùqì |
Mist / Foggy vapor |
|
36 |
雾 |
wù |
Fog |
|
37 |
起雾 |
qǐ wù |
Fog forming / Becomes foggy |
|
38 |
薄雾 |
bówù |
Light fog / Mist |
|
39 |
露水 |
lùshuǐ |
Dew |
|
40 |
云彩 |
yúncǎi |
Cloud (fluffy, visible clouds) |
|
41 |
阴天 |
yīntiān |
Overcast / Cloudy day |
|
42 |
龙卷风 |
lóngjuǎnfēng |
Tornado |
|
43 |
少云 |
shǎo yún |
Few clouds |
|
44 |
多云 |
duōyún |
Mostly cloudy |
|
45 |
干燥 |
gānzào |
Dry / Arid |
When planning outdoor activities or daily commutes, these are essential terms about weather in Chinese you'll encounter in conversations or weather apps.
3. Vocabulary for Natural Disasters in Chinese
Recognizing terms of weather in Chinese related to extreme conditions is critical, especially when discussing or preparing for emergencies in Chinese-speaking regions.
|
No. |
Weather in Chinese |
Pinyin |
English Meaning |
|
1 |
冰融 |
bīng róng |
Ice melting |
|
2 |
暴风雨 |
bàofēngyǔ |
Storm / Thunderstorm |
|
3 |
森林火灾 |
sēnlín huǒzāi |
Forest fire / Wildfire |
|
4 |
超级气流柱 |
chāojí qìliú zhù |
Super air column (extreme airflow phenomenon) |
|
5 |
地震 |
dìzhèn |
Earthquake |
|
6 |
干旱 |
gānhàn |
Drought |
|
7 |
滑坡泥石流 |
huápō níshíliú |
Landslide / Mudslide |
|
8 |
洪水 |
hóngshuǐ |
Flood |
|
9 |
冰雹 |
bīngbáo |
Hail |
|
10 |
火山爆发 / 火山喷发 |
huǒshān bàofā / huǒshān pēnfā |
Volcanic eruption |
|
11 |
海啸 |
hǎixiào |
Tsunami |
|
12 |
赤潮 |
chìcháo |
Red tide disaster (harmful algal bloom) |
|
13 |
天灾 |
tiānzāi |
Natural disaster |
|
14 |
龙卷风 |
lóngjuǎnfēng |
Tornado / Twister |
|
15 |
涡旋 |
wō xuán |
Whirlpool |
|
16 |
火焰龙卷 |
huǒyàn lóngjuǎn |
Fire tornado / Fire whirl |
Learning these terms sharpens your situational awareness and helps you act wisely in critical scenarios.
4. Vocabulary for the Seasons in Chinese
Discussing seasons in Chinese is a natural part of small talk and cultural events. Whether you're describing the weather or speaking about holidays, this knowledge is essential.
|
No. |
Weather in Chinese |
Pinyin |
English Meaning |
|
1 |
四季 / 春夏秋冬 / ...+季 |
sìjì / chūn xià qiū dōng / …+ jì |
The four seasons / Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter / Season of... |
|
2 |
春季 / 春天 |
chūnjì / chūntiān |
Spring |
|
3 |
夏季 / 夏天 |
xiàjì / xiàtiān |
Summer |
|
4 |
秋季 / 秋天 |
qiūjì / qiūtiān |
Autumn (Fall) |
|
5 |
冬季 / 冬天 |
dōngjì / dōngtiān |
Winter |
You might also encounter transitional expressions such as “季节变化” (jìjié biànhuà) meaning “seasonal changes.”
II. Idioms about Weather in Chinese That You Must Know
Idioms enrich your expression and bring depth to your Chinese speaking skills. Chinese uses both literal and figurative imagery to describe weather-related feelings, events, or situations.
1. Literal Weather-Related Idioms in Chinese
These idioms refer directly to real weather in Chinese patterns or effects and often appear in poetry, literature, or traditional sayings.
|
No. |
Chinese Idiom |
Pinyin |
English Meaning |
|
1 |
云淡风轻 |
yún dàn fēng qīng |
Light clouds and gentle breeze; describing calm, pleasant weather (also: peaceful state of mind) |
|
2 |
万里无云 |
wàn lǐ wú yún |
A cloudless sky stretching thousands of miles; perfectly clear day |
|
3 |
秋高气和 |
qiū gāo qì hé |
Clear autumn skies and refreshing air; cool and pleasant fall weather |
|
4 |
风轻云净 |
fēng qīng yún jìng |
Gentle wind and clean sky; serene and peaceful day |
|
5 |
碧空万里 |
bìkōng wànlǐ |
Vast, deep blue sky with no clouds in sight |
|
6 |
碧空如洗 |
bìkōng rú xǐ |
Sky as clear as if it were washed; vividly clear weather |
|
7 |
冰雪严寒 |
bīngxuě yánhán |
Bitter cold with snow and ice; freezing winter conditions |
|
8 |
焦金烁石 |
jiāo jīn shuò shí |
So hot it scorches metal and melts stones; extreme heat |
|
9 |
和风丽日 |
héfēng lì rì |
Gentle breeze and beautiful sunshine; perfect weather |
|
10 |
秋高气爽 |
qiū gāo qì shuǎng |
A bright, crisp autumn day; invigorating fall climate |
|
11 |
凄风苦雨 |
qī fēng kǔ yǔ |
Bleak wind and relentless rain; miserable or somber atmosphere |
|
12 |
雷霆万钧 |
léi tíng wàn jūn |
Thunderous power weighing ten thousand jūn (ancient weight); immense, overwhelming force (literal and metaphorical) |
|
13 |
千里冰封 |
qiān lǐ bīng fēng |
A thousand miles of frozen land; vast, harsh winter setting |
|
14 |
白雪皑皑 |
bái xuě ái ái |
A vast expanse of snow; snow-covered and sparkling white everywhere |
|
15 |
冰天雪地 |
bīng tiān xuě dì |
Ice in the sky and snow on the ground; intensely cold and snowy conditions |
|
16 |
光风霁月 |
guāng fēng jì yuè |
Bright wind and clear moon after a storm; often praises someone’s peaceful, upright character |
|
17 |
暴风骤雨 |
bàofēng zhòu yǔ |
Violent storm and torrential rain; also used metaphorically for intense events or struggles |
|
18 |
狂风暴雨 |
kuáng fēng bào yǔ |
Furious wind and pouring rain; chaotic and destructive weather (also metaphorically used for emotional or societal turmoil) |
These idioms are deeply rooted in natural observation and cultural expression.
2. Figurative Weather-Related Idioms in Chinese
In many cases, weather idioms convey emotions or social conditions rather than actual forecasts.
|
No. |
Chinese Idiom |
Pinyin |
English Meaning / Interpretation |
|
1 |
未雨绸缪 |
wèiyǔ chóumóu |
Prepare before it rains — Make preparations in advance; take precautions early |
|
2 |
如火如荼 |
rú huǒ rú tú |
Fiery and intense — Full of passion and momentum; used to describe vigorous activities or grand events |
|
3 |
空穴来风 |
kōng xué lái fēng |
A wind comes through an empty hole — There’s no smoke without fire; rumors often have a real source |
|
4 |
叱咤风云 |
chì zhà fēng yún |
Commanding wind and clouds — A powerful figure who dominates and influences major events or situations |
|
5 |
程门立雪 |
chéng mén lì xuě |
Standing in the snow at Master Cheng’s door — Deeply respecting one’s teacher or mentor |
|
6 |
釜底抽薪 |
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn |
Removing firewood from under the pot — Solving a problem at its root; addressing the cause instead of symptoms |
Mastering these idioms helps you communicate more naturally and understand implied meanings in everyday Chinese.
III. Basic Weather-Related Conversation Phrases in Chinese
Knowing weather in Chinese vocabulary is valuable, but understanding weather in Mandarin conversations solidifies your fluency. This section gives you common sentence structures to use or answer questions about the weather.
|
No. |
Chinese Sentence |
Pinyin |
English Translation |
|
1 |
今天天气怎么样？ |
Jīntiān tiānqì zěnme yàng? |
How’s the weather today? |
|
2 |
今天天气好极了！ |
Jīntiān tiānqì hǎo jíle! |
The weather is wonderful today! |
|
3 |
今天天气不好。 |
Jīntiān tiānqì bù hǎo. |
The weather is bad today. |
|
4 |
今天天气变坏了。 |
Jīntiān tiānqì biàn huàile. |
The weather’s gotten worse today. |
|
5 |
今天又下大雨又打雷。 |
Jīntiān yòu xià dàyǔ yòu dǎléi. |
It’s both raining heavily and thundering today. |
|
6 |
最近几天又闷又热。 |
Zuìjìn jǐ tiān yòu mèn yòu rè. |
It’s been hot and stuffy these past few days. |
|
7 |
你经常看天气预报吗？ |
Nǐ jīngcháng kàn tiānqì yùbào ma? |
Do you watch the weather forecast often? |
|
8 |
天气预报说明天下大雪。 |
Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān xià dàxuě. |
The forecast says there’ll be heavy snow tomorrow. |
|
9 |
下午会下雨，别忘带雨伞。 |
Xiàwǔ huì xià yǔ, bié wàng dài yǔsǎn. |
It’ll rain this afternoon, don’t forget your umbrella. |
|
10 |
今天的气温是多少？ |
Jīntiān de qìwēn shì duōshǎo? |
What’s today’s temperature? |
|
11 |
温度是多少度？ |
Wēndù shì duōshǎo dù? |
What’s the temperature? |
|
12 |
天气预报说明天的天气怎么样？ |
Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān de tiānqì zěnme yàng? |
What does the weather forecast say about tomorrow? |
|
13 |
天气热 /冷 /凉 /干燥 /潮湿。 |
Tiānqì rè/lěng/liáng/gānzào/cháoshī. |
It’s hot / cold / cool / dry / humid. |
|
14 |
今天天气变坏了。 |
Jīntiān tiānqì biàn huàile. |
The weather’s turned bad today. |
|
15 |
有雾 / 云 / 雨。 |
Yǒu wù / yún / yǔ. |
There is fog / clouds / rain. |
|
16 |
今天变冷了。 |
Jīntiān biàn lěngle. |
It’s gotten colder today. |
|
17 |
今天天气闷热。 |
Jīntiān tiānqì mēnrè. |
It’s stuffy and hot today. |
|
18 |
晴天 / 阴天 / 刮风。 |
Qíngtiān / yīn tiān / guā fēng. |
It’s sunny / overcast / windy. |
|
19 |
现在刮12级台风。 |
Xiànzài guā 12 jí táifēng. |
A level 12 typhoon is happening now. |
|
20 |
下雨了。 |
Xià yǔle. |
It’s raining. |
|
21 |
(Skipped) |
(N/A) |
(N/A) |
|
22 |
寒潮来了。 |
Háncháo láile. |
A cold wave has arrived. |
|
23 |
下雪了。 |
Xià xuěle. |
It’s snowing. |
|
24 |
下冰雹了。 |
Xià bīngbáole. |
It’s hailing. |
|
25 |
结冰了。 |
Jié bīngle. |
It’s frozen. (There’s ice) |
|
26 |
台风来了。 |
Táifēng láile. |
The typhoon has arrived. |
|
27 |
我觉得热 / 冷。 |
Wǒ juédé rè/lěng. |
I feel hot / cold. |
|
28 |
我怕热 / 冷。 |
Wǒ pà rè/lěng. |
I don’t like heat / cold. (Literally: I fear heat/cold) |
|
29 |
20度 / 0度 / 零下5度。 |
20 dù / 0 dù / língxià 5 dù. |
20°C / 0°C / -5°C. |
|
30 |
天气预报说多云，有雨。 |
Tiānqì yùbào shuō duōyún, yǒu yǔ. |
The forecast says it will be cloudy with rain. |
These structures can be customized with new vocabulary of weather in Chinese you’ve learned, offering you flexibility in real-life conversations.
IV. Final Thoughts
Whether you’re talking about rain in Chinese, checking a forecast, or describing the seasons in Chinese, this guide offers structured and semantically rich language that will support practical fluency. With over 130 grouped entries of weather in Chinese and real-use conversational lines, you now have what you need to confidently talk about weather in Mandarin.
Keep practicing daily by checking the weather, noting the conditions, and trying to describe them in Chinese. Doing so reinforces vocabulary retention and conversational confidence in every season.
Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.
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