谈天气 — Talking About the Weather
Talking about the weather · a free Mandarin Chinese immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
今天天气怎么样？
How is the weather today?
Literal Today weather how?
A natural conversation opener asking about current weather conditions.
- 怎么样 asks 'how is something' or 'what is it like'
- 今天 (today) precedes the topic 天气 (weather)
外面很热，我们待在家里吧。
It's very hot outside; let's stay home.
Literal Outside very hot, we stay at home particle.
Uses 很 to intensify the adjective and 吧 to gently suggest a course of action.
- 很 intensifies adjectives
- 吧 at sentence end softens a suggestion or seeks agreement
今天比昨天冷多了。
Today is much colder than yesterday.
Literal Today compared-to yesterday cold much.
Uses the 比 structure to make a comparison, with 多了 emphasizing the large degree of difference.
- 比 introduces comparisons: A 比 B + adjective
- 多了 after an adjective means 'much more'
天气预报说明天会下雨。
The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
Literal Weather forecast say tomorrow will fall-rain.
Introduces 会 to express future probability and 下雨 as the standard verb phrase for raining.
- 会 + verb expresses future likelihood
- 下雨 literally means 'fall rain' and is the standard verb for 'to rain'
如果明天下雪，我们就不去爬山了。
If it snows tomorrow, we won't go hiking.
Literal If tomorrow fall-snow, we then not go climb-mountain.
Demonstrates the conditional structure 如果...就... meaning 'if...then...'.
- 如果...就... forms a conditional sentence
- 下雪 means 'to snow'; 爬山 means 'to hike or climb a mountain'
北京的冬天非常冷，经常刮大风。
Beijing's winters are extremely cold and it often blows strong winds.
Literal Beijing's winter extremely cold, often blow big wind.
Uses 非常 for 'extremely' and introduces 刮风 as the verb for windy conditions.
- 非常 is stronger than 很 and means 'extremely'
- 刮风 means 'to blow wind'; 刮大风 means 'strong winds are blowing'
最近天气变化很大，要多注意身体。
The weather has been changing a lot lately; take good care of yourself.
Literal Recently weather change very big, need more pay-attention body.
最近 means 'recently/lately' and 注意身体 is a common idiomatic expression for taking care of one's health.
- 最近 refers to the recent past or near future
- 注意身体 is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'take care of your health'
春天来了，天气慢慢变暖了。
Spring has arrived and the weather is gradually getting warmer.
Literal Spring come-completed, weather slowly become-warm completed.
Uses 了 to mark a change of state and 慢慢 as an adverb meaning 'gradually'.
- 了 after a verb or at sentence end marks a change of state
- 慢慢 as an adverb means 'slowly' or 'gradually'
因为今天阴天，所以我带了雨伞。
Because it's cloudy today, I brought an umbrella.
Literal Because today cloudy-day, therefore I brought rain-umbrella.
Shows the cause-and-effect structure 因为...所以... meaning 'because...therefore...'.
- 因为...所以... expresses cause and effect
- 阴天 means 'cloudy/overcast day'; 雨伞 means 'umbrella'
这个夏天比往年热多了，大家都受不了。
This summer is much hotter than previous years; everyone can't stand it.
Literal This summer compared-to past-years hot much, everyone all endure-not-able.
Combines the 比 comparison structure with 受不了, an idiomatic phrase meaning 'cannot bear or stand it'.
- 往年 means 'previous years'
- 受不了 is a potential complement (可能补语): 不 is inserted between the verb 受 and the result 了 to signal that the action cannot be completed; the affirmative form 受得了 means 'can endure'
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
天气 (tiānqì)
weather
今天天气很好。(Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.)
The weather is very nice today.
Literally 'sky energy'; the core word for weather
下雨 (xià yǔ)
to rain
外面正在下雨。(Wàimiàn zhèngzài xià yǔ.)
It is raining outside.
Literally 'fall rain'; 下雨了 (xià yǔ le) signals rain has just started
刮风 (guā fēng)
to be windy
今天刮大风。(Jīntiān guā dà fēng.)
It is very windy today.
Literally 'blow wind'
下雪 (xià xuě)
to snow
冬天经常下雪。(Dōngtiān jīngcháng xià xuě.)
It often snows in winter.
Literally 'fall snow'
预报 (yùbào)
forecast
天气预报说明天晴天。(Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān qíngtiān.)
The weather forecast says it will be sunny tomorrow.
天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào) = weather forecast
季节 (jìjié)
season
你最喜欢哪个季节？(Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge jìjié?)
Which season do you like most?
四季 (sìjì) = the four seasons
温度 (wēndù)
temperature
今天温度很低。(Jīntiān wēndù hěn dī.)
The temperature is very low today.
气温 (qìwēn) is also used for outdoor air temperature
阴天 (yīntiān)
cloudy day / overcast
今天是阴天，有点冷。(Jīntiān shì yīntiān, yǒudiǎn lěng.)
It's an overcast day today; a bit cold.
Opposite is 晴天 (qíngtiān), sunny day
凉快 (liángkuai)
cool and refreshing
秋天很凉快。(Qiūtiān hěn liángkuai.)
Autumn is cool and refreshing.
Pleasantly cool, distinct from 冷 (lěng), cold
潮湿 (cháoshī)
humid / damp
夏天又热又潮湿。(Xiàtiān yòu rè yòu cháoshī.)
Summer is both hot and humid.
Often paired with 闷热 (mēnrè), muggy
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
昨天，小明和朋友们计划去郊外野餐，但天气预报说下午会下雨。早上天气还不错，阳光明媚，但到了中午，天空慢慢变阴了。因为他们担心被淋湿，所以决定改在室内聚会。结果下午真的刮起了大风，还下起了暴雨。大家都觉得幸好提前做了准备，不然就麻烦了。 Zuótiān, Xiǎo Míng hé péngyǒumen jìhuà qù jiāowài yěcān, dàn tiānqì yùbào shuō xiàwǔ huì xià yǔ. Zǎoshang tiānqì hái bùcuò, yángguāng míngmèi, dàn dàole zhōngwǔ, tiānkōng mànmàn biàn yīn le. Yīnwèi tāmen dānxīn bèi lín shī, suǒyǐ juédìng gǎi zài shìnèi jùhuì. Jiéguǒ xiàwǔ zhēnde guāqǐle dàfēng, hái xiàqǐle bàoyǔ. Dàjiā dōu juéde xìnghǎo tíqián zuòle zhǔnbèi, bùrán jiù máfan le.
Sentence by sentence
天气预报说下午会下雨 (tiānqì yùbào shuō xiàwǔ huì xià yǔ)
the weather forecast said it would rain in the afternoon
会 (huì) expresses future likelihood; 下午 (xiàwǔ) means afternoon; 下雨 (xià yǔ) is the verb phrase for raining
天空慢慢变阴了 (tiānkōng mànmàn biàn yīn le)
the sky gradually turned overcast
慢慢 (mànmàn, gradually) modifies the change; 变 (biàn) means to become; 了 (le) marks the completed change of state
因为他们担心被淋湿，所以决定改在室内聚会 (yīnwèi tāmen dānxīn bèi lín shī, suǒyǐ juédìng gǎi zài shìnèi jùhuì)
because they were worried about getting soaked, they decided to gather indoors instead
因为...所以... (yīnwèi...suǒyǐ...) = because...therefore...; 被淋湿 (bèi lín shī) is a passive structure using 被 (bèi) to mark the subject as receiver of the action, meaning to get drenched
刮起了大风，还下起了暴雨 (guāqǐle dàfēng, hái xiàqǐle bàoyǔ)
strong winds picked up and a heavy rainstorm followed
起了 (qǐle) after a weather verb indicates the onset of the event; 还 (hái) adds the second event; 暴雨 (bàoyǔ) means heavy rain or rainstorm
幸好提前做了准备 (xìnghǎo tíqián zuòle zhǔnbèi)
fortunately they had prepared in advance
幸好 (xìnghǎo) means fortunately or luckily; 提前 (tíqián) means in advance or ahead of time; 做了准备 (zuòle zhǔnbèi) uses the resultative 了 (le) to confirm the preparation was completed
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Comparison with 比 (bǐ)
Use 比 to compare two things directly. Place 比 between the two items, then state the adjective. Add 多了 to mean 'much more' or 一点 to mean 'a little more'. This pattern is essential for describing weather changes and contrasting climates.
A + 比 + B + adjective (+ 多了 / 一点)
今天比昨天冷多了。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng duō le.
Today is much colder than yesterday.
北京比上海干燥一点。 Běijīng bǐ Shànghǎi gānzào yīdiǎn.
Beijing is a little drier than Shanghai.
这个冬天比往年冷。 Zhège dōngtiān bǐ wǎngnián lěng.
This winter is colder than previous years.
南方比北方潮湿。 Nánfāng bǐ běifāng cháoshī.
The south is more humid than the north.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
今天比昨天冷多了。 (Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng duō le.)
Hint 比 (bǐ) marks the comparison; 多了 (duō le) adds emphasis ('much more')
The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
Hint Use 天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào) for 'weather forecast' and 会 (huì) before the verb for 'will'
因为今天___天，所以我带了雨伞。 (Yīnwèi jīntiān ___ tiān, suǒyǐ wǒ dài le yǔsǎn.) (Because today is overcast, I brought an umbrella.)
Hint This weather word describes a cloudy, grey sky with no sun
Which sentence correctly uses 比 (bǐ) to say 'This summer is much hotter than past years'?
Combine these two ideas into one sentence using 比 (bǐ): 'Beijing winters are very cold.' + 'Spring is not as cold.' → 北京的冬天 ___ 春天 ___。 (Běijīng de dōngtiān ___ chūntiān ___ .)
Hint Place 比 (bǐ) between the two things being compared, then add the adjective at the end
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