Skip main navigation

New lower prices! Get up to 50% off 1000s of courses. 

Explore courses

How to express the weather and temperature

This video concentrates on the weather and temperature.

This video concentrates on the weather and temperature.

audio

The most common way to inquire about today’s weather is by using “怎么样(zěnmeyàng)” as below.

今天天气怎么样? (Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?) How is the weather today?

“”今天(jīntiān)“ means “today”. “天气(tiānqì)” refers to the weather. “怎么样(zěnmeyàng)” can be used for asking about the condition of something.

The topic before “怎么样(zěnmeyàng)” can be changed to other things like “火锅(huǒguō)”, “火锅怎么样?(Huǒguō zěnmeyàng?)”

When we describe the weather, we like to use words that indicate to what extent something is and put them in front of adjectives.

Here are some examples.

  • 很(hěn) very (much)
    今天很热。 (Jīntiān hěn rè.) It is very hot today.
  • 有点儿(yǒudiǎnr) a little bit
    今天有点儿热。 (Jīntiān yǒudiǎnr rè.) It is a little hot today.
  • 不太(bútài) not that (much)
    今天不太热。 (Jīntiān bútài rè.) Today it is not that hot.
The typical way to ask about today’s temperature is as follows.
今天多少度? (Jīntiān duōshao dù?) What’s the temperature today?
The measurement of temperature is “度(dù) degree”. China uses Celsius to measure the temperature. In order to answer this question, you just need to put the number before “度(dù)”.
Here are three examples for you to better understand how to answer this question.
  • 今天多少度? (Jīntiān duōshao dù?) 今天10度。(Jīntiān 10 dù.) Today is 10 degrees.
  • 今天多少度? (Jīntiān duōshao dù?) 今天3到10度。(Jīntiān 3 dào 10 dù.) Today is 3 to 10 degrees.
  • 今天多少度? (Jīntiān duōshao dù?) 今天零下10度。(Jīntiān língxià 10 dù.) Today is minus 10 degrees.
“到(dào)” indicates “…to…”. “零下(língxià)”means “below zero”.
If you would like to know more expressions to describe the weather, you might find the following list of words useful.
  • 冷(lěng) cold
  • 热(rè) hot
  • 干燥(gānzào) dry
  • 潮湿(cháoshī) moist
  • 下雨(xiàyǔ) rain
  • 多云(duōyún) partially cloudy
  • 晴天(qíngtiān) sunny day
  • 阴天(yīntiān) cloudy day
  • 四季如春(sìjìrúchūn) like spring all year around

When you talk about the climate, you may start with “Subject 觉得(juéde)” which means “In someone’s opinion”. For example, “我觉得上海很潮湿(Wǒ juéde Shànghǎi hěn cháoshī.)” means “I think the climate in Shanghai is humid”.

This article is from the free online

Learn Chinese: Introduction to Chinese Conversation

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now