tiānqì: 天气 - Weather

• Keywords: tiānqì, 天气, weather in Chinese, how to say weather in Mandarin, Chinese for weather, tianqi meaning, what does tianqi mean, today's weather in Chinese, Chinese weather forecast, HSK 1 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word for “weather,” 天气 (tiānqì). This page breaks down the characters, explains its cultural significance in daily life, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover how to ask about the weather, describe a beautiful day, and understand the difference between weather (天气) and climate (气候) to avoid common beginner mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tiānqì (tiān qì)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time; weather.
• In a Nutshell: 天气 (tiānqì) is your go-to, everyday word for “weather” in Chinese. It's one of the first words learners master because it's so fundamental to daily conversation. Whether you're making small talk, checking the forecast, or deciding what to wear, 天气 (tiānqì) is the word you'll use.

• 天 (tiān): This character means “sky,” “day,” or “heaven.” Its original form was a pictogram of a person with a large head, emphasizing what is above us. Think of it as the vast expanse of the sky.
• 气 (qì): This character means “air,” “gas,” or “spirit/energy.” It's a foundational concept in Chinese culture, representing the vital life force. The character itself looks like steam or vapor rising from rice.
• When combined, 天气 (tiānqì) literally means “sky's air” or “sky's energy.” This beautifully and logically captures the concept of weather – the atmospheric conditions originating from the sky.

Just like in English, talking about the 天气 (tiānqì) is a universal and safe topic for starting conversations in China. It's the perfect icebreaker with a taxi driver, a new acquaintance, or a shopkeeper. However, the characters themselves lend a slightly deeper cultural resonance than the English word “weather.” The term is built from 天 (tiān - sky/heaven) and 气 (qì - energy/air), two of the most fundamental concepts in Chinese philosophy. 天 (tiān) represents a higher, natural order, while 气 (qì) is the tangible manifestation of energy that flows through all things. So, 天气 (tiānqì) isn't just a set of meteorological data; it can be subtly felt as the “mood” or “energy” of the heavens on any given day. While a Westerner might see weather primarily through a scientific lens (pressure systems, fronts, humidity), the Chinese term is a constant, subtle reminder of the connection between humanity and the greater natural world. This aligns with traditional values that emphasize living in harmony with nature.

天气 (tiānqì) is used constantly in everyday modern life.

• Small Talk: It's the most common way to start a conversation. “今天天气真好！” (The weather is really nice today!) is a frequent and friendly opening.
• Checking the Forecast: You'll see and hear it in weather reports on TV, online, and in apps. The term for a weather forecast is 天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào).
• Making Plans: People will always consider the 天气 (tiānqì) when planning activities. “我们明天去看天气怎么样” (Let's see what the weather is like tomorrow before we decide).
• Social Media: It's very common for people to post photos of a beautiful sunset or a snowy landscape with a caption about the 天气 (tiānqì).

The word itself is neutral; its connotation becomes positive or negative depending on the adjective used with it, like 好 (hǎo - good) or 不好 (bù hǎo - not good). It is used in both formal and informal contexts without change.

• Example 1:
  • 今天天气怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
  • English: How's the weather today?
  • Analysis: This is the most common and essential question for asking about the weather. It's a perfect phrase for beginners.
• Example 2:
  • 北京的天气很好，是晴天。
  • Pinyin: Běijīng de tiānqì hěn hǎo, shì qíngtiān.
  • English: Beijing's weather is very good, it's a sunny day.
  • Analysis: A simple and direct way to describe good weather. Notice the use of 很 (hěn) to mean “very.”
• Example 3:
  • 我不喜欢这种天气，太热了！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xǐhuān zhè zhǒng tiānqì, tài rè le!
  • English: I don't like this kind of weather, it's too hot!
  • Analysis: This shows how to express a negative opinion about the weather. 太…了 (tài…le) is a common structure for “too…”
• Example 4:
  • 天气预报说周末会下雨。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō zhōumò huì xià yǔ.
  • English: The weather forecast says it will rain this weekend.
  • Analysis: This example introduces the compound word 天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào), which means “weather forecast.” 会 (huì) is used to indicate future possibility.
• Example 5:
  • 最近天气变化很大，你要多穿点衣服。
  • Pinyin: Zuìjìn tiānqì biànhuà hěn dà, nǐ yào duō chuān diǎn yīfú.
  • English: The weather has been changing a lot recently, you should wear more clothes.
  • Analysis: A very practical and caring sentence you might hear from a friend or family member. 变化很大 (biànhuà hěn dà) means “changes a lot.”
• Example 6:
  • 如果天气好的话，我们明天去爬山。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ tiānqì hǎo de huà, wǒmen míngtiān qù páshān.
  • English: If the weather is good, we'll go hiking tomorrow.
  • Analysis: The 如果…的话 (rúguǒ…de huà) structure is a common way to say “if…” in Chinese.
• Example 7:
  • 这里的天气总是又湿又冷。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de tiānqì zǒngshì yòu shī yòu lěng.
  • English: The weather here is always both wet and cold.
  • Analysis: The 又…又… (yòu…yòu…) pattern is used to connect two adjectives that describe the same noun, in this case, the weather.
• Example 8:
  • 坏天气影响了我的心情。
  • Pinyin: Huài tiānqì yǐngxiǎngle wǒ de xīnqíng.
  • English: The bad weather affected my mood.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 天气 (tiānqì) to feelings, using the word 影响 (yǐngxiǎng - to influence/affect).
• Example 9:
  • 不管天气如何，他每天都坚持跑步。
  • Pinyin: Bùguǎn tiānqì rúhé, tā měitiān dōu jiānchí pǎobù.
  • English: No matter what the weather is like, he insists on jogging every day.
  • Analysis: 不管…如何 (bùguǎn…rúhé) is a useful structure for “no matter what…” or “regardless of…”.
• Example 10:
  • 天气突然变冷了。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì tūrán biàn lěng le.
  • English: The weather suddenly turned cold.
  • Analysis: 突然 (tūrán) means “suddenly,” and 变 (biàn) means “to change” or “to become.” This is a great pattern for describing abrupt weather shifts.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 天气 (tiānqì) with 气候 (qìhòu).

• 天气 (tiānqì) refers to Weather: The short-term, day-to-day atmospheric conditions. (e.g., Is it sunny *today*? Will it rain *this afternoon*?)
• 气候 (qìhòu) refers to Climate: The long-term, average weather patterns of a specific region. (e.g., Does this city have a tropical *climate*? What is the *climate* of Northern China like in winter?)

Incorrect Usage:

• 今天气候很好。 (Jīntiān qìhòu hěn hǎo.)
• Why it's wrong: You are talking about today's conditions, which is weather, not the long-term climate.
• Correct: 今天天气很好。 (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.) - The weather is good today.

Incorrect Usage:

• 海南的天气是热带的。 (Hǎinán de tiānqì shì rèdài de.)
• Why it's wrong: You are describing the long-term, characteristic pattern of Hainan province, which is its climate.
• Correct: 海南的气候是热带的。 (Hǎinán de qìhòu shì rèdài de.) - Hainan's climate is tropical.

Remember: If you can say “today's weather” in English, use 天气. If you're talking about the general weather of a place over years, use 气候.

• 气候 (qìhòu) - Climate. The long-term weather pattern of a region, as opposed to the short-term 天气.
• 天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào) - Weather forecast. The most common compound word using 天气.
• 晴天 (qíngtiān) - Sunny day. A specific type of good weather.
• 阴天 (yīntiān) - Overcast day/cloudy day. A specific type of weather.
• 下雨 (xià yǔ) - To rain. A verb describing a weather phenomenon.
• 下雪 (xià xuě) - To snow. Another verb for a weather event.
• 刮风 (guā fēng) - To be windy. A description of the wind condition.
• 温度 (wēndù) - Temperature. A key component of any weather discussion.
• 季节 (jìjié) - Season. The four seasons are defined by their general weather and climate patterns.