Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 28

てんきと きせつWeather and seasons

Tenki to kisetsu

Weather words: tenki, atsui, samui, ame, yuki, hare, natsu, fuyu, kisetsu, atatakai. The key grammar is saying the weather with an i-adjective + "desu": atsui desu, samui desu. You also use a noun + "desu": hare desu, ame desu. Japanese weather sentences need no subject. English speakers add "sore wa" and say "sore wa atsui desu", but the correct form is "atsui desu". Kana corner: pronouncing the weather words.

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それは あついです?— sore wa atsui desu?

  1. YukiMaikusanきょうkyōnotenkiwaどうdesukaMike, how is the weather today?
  2. MikeSorewaatsuidesuSorewaiitenkidesuIt is hot. It is nice weather. (slip: Japanese weather needs no "it" subject → atsui desu. ii tenki desu.)
  3. YukiSorewawairimasen:tenkiwaしゅshugoganakutemoiidesuAtsuidesuYou do not need "sore wa": weather needs no subject. Just "atsui desu".
  4. MikeAatsuidesuIitenkidesuneAh, it is hot. Nice weather, isn't it.
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なつの てんきは どうですか?— What is the weather like in summer?

  1. YukiMaikusannatsunotenkiwaどうdesukaMike, what is the weather like in summer?
  2. MikeNatsuwaatsuidesuHarenohigaおおōidesuSummer is hot. There are many sunny days.
  3. YukiFuyuwasamuidesukaIs winter cold?
  4. MikeHaitotemosamuidesuYukimofurimasuYes, it is very cold. It snows too.
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tenki

nounweather

atsui

adjectivehot (i-adj)

samui

adjectivecold (i-adj)

ame

nounrain

yuki

nounsnow

hare

nounclear, sunny weather

natsu

nounsummer

fuyu

nounwinter

kisetsu

nounseason

atatakai

adjectivewarm (i-adj)

i

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Talking about weather: "atsui desu"

Explanation

To talk about the weather, an i-adjective + "desu" is enough: atsui desu, samui desu, atatakai desu. For weather that is a noun, use noun + "desu": hare desu, ame desu, yuki desu. Add "kyou wa", "natsu wa" and so on at the front to say when: kyou wa atsui desu, fuyu wa samui desu. The key point is that Japanese weather sentences need no subject. Some people insert "sore wa" like the English "it", but "sore wa atsui desu" is unnecessary — just "atsui desu" is fine. To ask, say "tenki wa dou desu ka".

Examples

  • きょうは あついです。It is hot today.
  • あめですね。It is raining, isn't it.
  • ふゆは さむいです。Winter is cold.
  • てんきは どうですか? — はれです。How is the weather? — It is sunny.
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てんきの ことば— Weather Words

Read the sentences in hiragana:

  • きょうは あついですkyō wa atsui desuit is hot today
  • ふゆは さむいですfuyu wa samui desuwinter is cold
  • あめですねame desu neit is raining, isn't it
  • てんきは どうですかtenki wa dō desu kahow is the weather?

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