Japanese Weather Words: Essential Vocabulary for Weather and Japan’s Four Seasons

Hello, I’m Kodak.

Weather is one of the easiest conversation topics to use in Japanese. You can talk about the heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, or changing seasons even when you have just met someone.

Start Here: Theme 25 Weather and Seasonal Culture Guides

This hub article gives you the complete vocabulary map. Use the following individual guides when you want a deeper explanation of meaning, pronunciation, usage, culture, and examples.

What Does 天気 (Tenki) Mean?

天気てんき means weather. It refers broadly to the condition of the atmosphere, including temperature, humidity, wind, cloud, visibility, rain, snow, and thunder.

今日の天気はどうですか？
Kyō no tenki wa dō desu ka?
How is the weather today?

明日の天気を確認します。
Ashita no tenki o kakunin shimasu.
I will check tomorrow’s weather.

天気が変わりやすい。
Tenki ga kawariyasui.
The weather changes easily.

天気 vs 天候 vs 気候

今日の天気は晴れです。
Today’s weather is sunny.

天候が回復しました。
Tenkō ga kaifuku shimashita.
The weather conditions have improved.

沖縄は温暖な気候です。
Okinawa wa ondan na kikō desu.
Okinawa has a warm climate.

How to Ask About the Weather in Japanese

Sunny and Clear Weather Words

晴れ (Hare): Sunny or Clear Weather

晴れ is a noun meaning sunny or clear weather.

今日は晴れです。
Kyō wa hare desu.
It is sunny today.

明日は晴れるでしょう。
Ashita wa hareru deshō.
It will probably clear up tomorrow.

晴れる (Hareru): To Clear Up

晴れる is a verb. It describes cloudy, rainy, snowy, or foggy conditions clearing away.

午後には晴れそうです。
Gogo ni wa haresō desu.
It looks like it will clear up in the afternoon.

快晴 (Kaisei): Completely Clear Weather

快晴 means very clear weather with almost no cloud. It is more formal and often appears in reports or descriptions.

今日は雲一つない快晴です。
Kyō wa kumo hitotsu nai kaisei desu.
Today is perfectly clear without a cloud in the sky.

晴天 (Seiten): Fine or Clear Weather

晴天 is a somewhat formal noun meaning fine or clear weather.

Cloudy Weather Words

曇り (Kumori): Cloudy Weather

今日は曇りです。
Kyō wa kumori desu.
It is cloudy today.

曇る (Kumoru): To Become Cloudy

空が曇ってきた。
Sora ga kumotte kita.
The sky is becoming cloudy.

曇っている (Kumotte Iru): It Is Cloudy

朝から空が曇っている。
Asa kara sora ga kumotte iru.
The sky has been cloudy since this morning.

どんよりする (Donyori Suru): Gloomy and Heavily Overcast

どんより describes a dark, heavy, gloomy sky. It can also describe a person’s gloomy expression or mood.

空がどんよりしている。
Sora ga donyori shite iru.
The sky is dark and overcast.

Japanese Words for Rain

雨 (Ame): Rain

雨です。
Ame desu.
It is rainy. / It is raining.

雨が降る (Ame ga Furu): It Rains

午後から雨が降ります。
Gogo kara ame ga furimasu.
It will rain from the afternoon.

雨がやむ (Ame ga Yamu): The Rain Stops

雨がやみました。
Ame ga yamimashita.
The rain has stopped.

雨が強くなる: The Rain Becomes Heavier

夜は雨が強くなるでしょう。
Yoru wa ame ga tsuyoku naru deshō.
The rain will probably become heavier at night.

小雨 (Kosame): Light Rain

小雨 means light rain or a small amount of rain.

霧雨 (Kirisame): Drizzle

霧雨 is very fine rain made of tiny droplets.

細かい霧雨が降っている。
Komakai kirisame ga futte iru.
A fine drizzle is falling.

にわか雨 (Niwakaame): Sudden Shower

にわか雨 is rain that begins suddenly and often ends after a relatively short time.

午後はにわか雨に注意してください。
Gogo wa niwakaame ni chūi shite kudasai.
Please watch out for sudden showers in the afternoon.

大雨 (Ōame): Heavy Rain

大雨 means heavy rain and is common in forecasts and warnings.

大雨のおそれがあります。
Ōame no osore ga arimasu.
There is a risk of heavy rain.

豪雨 (Gōu): Torrential Rain

豪雨 is a strong, formal word for torrential or extremely heavy rain.

長雨 (Nagaame): Prolonged Rain

長雨 describes rainy weather continuing for several days or longer.

雷雨 (Raiu): Thunderstorm

雷雨 is rain accompanied by thunder.

梅雨: Japan’s Rainy Season

梅雨 (tsuyu) is not one rain shower. It is the seasonal period from late spring into summer when rainy and cloudy days become frequent.

日本は梅雨に入りました。
Nihon wa tsuyu ni hairimashita.
Japan has entered the rainy season.

梅雨は湿気が多い。
Tsuyu wa shikke ga ōi.
The rainy season is humid.

Read the complete guide: What Does 梅雨 (Tsuyu) Mean?

Japanese Words for Snow and Ice

雪 (Yuki): Snow

雪が降っています。
Yuki ga futte imasu.
It is snowing.

雪が積もる (Yuki ga Tsumoru): Snow Accumulates

道路に雪が積もっています。
Dōro ni yuki ga tsumotte imasu.
Snow has accumulated on the road.

雪が解ける (Yuki ga Tokeru): Snow Melts

暖かくなって雪が解けた。
Atatakaku natte yuki ga toketa.
It became warm, and the snow melted.

大雪 (Ōyuki): Heavy Snow

大雪 means heavy snow or a large snowfall.

吹雪 (Fubuki): Snowstorm or Blizzard

吹雪 describes snow being driven strongly by wind.

みぞれ (Mizore): Sleet

みぞれ is precipitation in which rain and snow are mixed.

あられ (Arare): Small Ice Pellets

あられ refers to ice particles smaller than hail under official weather terminology.

ひょう (Hyō): Hail

ひょう refers to larger ice pellets falling from clouds.

霜 (Shimo): Frost

今朝は霜がおりた。
Kesa wa shimo ga orita.
Frost formed this morning.

Japanese Words for Wind

風 (Kaze): Wind

風が吹いている。
Kaze ga fuite iru.
The wind is blowing.

風が強い (Kaze ga Tsuyoi): It Is Windy

今日は風が強い。
Kyō wa kaze ga tsuyoi.
It is windy today.

風が弱い (Kaze ga Yowai): The Wind Is Weak

風がおさまる (Kaze ga Osamaru): The Wind Dies Down

夜には風がおさまるでしょう。
Yoru ni wa kaze ga osamaru deshō.
The wind will probably die down at night.

そよ風 (Soyokaze): Gentle Breeze

そよ風 is a light, pleasant breeze. It is more literary or descriptive than a basic forecast term.

追い風 (Oikaze): Tailwind

向かい風 (Mukaikaze): Headwind

These words can also be used figuratively for favorable and unfavorable circumstances.

Storm, Thunder, and Typhoon Vocabulary

嵐 (Arashi): Storm

嵐 is a general everyday word for a storm involving strong wind and often rain.

台風 (Taifū): Typhoon

台風 means typhoon. It is a tropical cyclone classified and named under meteorological standards.

台風が近づいています。
Taifū ga chikazuite imasu.
A typhoon is approaching.

台風の影響で電車が止まった。
Taifū no eikyō de densha ga tomatta.
The trains stopped because of the typhoon.

雷 (Kaminari): Thunder

雷 often refers broadly to thunder and lightning as a weather phenomenon in everyday Japanese.

雷が鳴っている。
Kaminari ga natte iru.
Thunder is rumbling.

稲妻 (Inazuma): Lightning

稲妻 refers to a flash of lightning and often has a literary or visual feel.

落雷 (Rakurāi): Lightning Strike

落雷 means a lightning strike to the ground or an object.

暴風 (Bōfū): Violent Wind

暴風 is a formal disaster-prevention term for wind meeting warning-level standards. Do not use it as a casual synonym for every windy day.

Fog, Rainbow, Sun, and Sky Vocabulary

朝は霧が濃かった。
Asa wa kiri ga kokatta.
The fog was thick in the morning.

雨上がりに虹が出た。
Ameagari ni niji ga deta.
A rainbow appeared after the rain.

今日は日差しが強い。
Kyō wa hizashi ga tsuyoi.
The sunlight is strong today.

雲の間から青空が見える。
Kumo no aida kara aozora ga mieru.
The blue sky is visible between the clouds.

Japanese Temperature Words

暑い (Atsui): Hot Weather or Air

暑い describes high air temperature, weather, seasons, rooms, and environments.

今日は暑い。
Kyō wa atsui.
It is hot today.

Read the complete guide: What Does 暑い (Atsui) Mean?

寒い (Samui): Cold Weather or Air

寒い describes low environmental temperature and the whole-body feeling of cold.

外は寒い。
Soto wa samui.
It is cold outside.

Read the complete guide: What Does 寒い (Samui) Mean?

暖かい (Atatakai): Pleasantly Warm

暖かい describes comfortable warmth in the weather, air, room, clothing, or atmosphere.

今日は春らしく暖かい。
Kyō wa haru rashiku atatakai.
It is pleasantly warm today, like spring.

涼しい (Suzushii): Pleasantly Cool

涼しい means cool and refreshing rather than unpleasantly cold.

朝は涼しい。
Asa wa suzushii.
The morning is pleasantly cool.

蒸し暑い (Mushiatsui): Hot and Humid

蒸し暑い combines heat with high humidity and weak airflow.

日本の夏は蒸し暑い日が多い。
Nihon no natsu wa mushiatsui hi ga ōi.
There are many hot and humid days during the Japanese summer.

肌寒い (Hadasamui): Chilly

肌寒い means slightly cold or chilly, especially when cool air is felt on the skin.

暑すぎる / 寒すぎる: Too Hot / Too Cold

この部屋は暑すぎる。
This room is too hot.

外は寒すぎる。
It is too cold outside.

Humidity and Dryness Vocabulary

今日は湿度が高い。
Kyō wa shitsudo ga takai.
The humidity is high today.

梅雨はじめじめする。
Tsuyu wa jimejime suru.
The rainy season feels damp and clammy.

冬は空気が乾燥する。
Fuyu wa kūki ga kansō suru.
The air becomes dry in winter.

How to Talk About Temperature in Japanese

今日の最高気温は三十二度です。
Kyō no saikō kion wa sanjūni-do desu.
Today’s high is 32 degrees.

朝は氷点下まで下がりました。
Asa wa hyōtenka made sagarimashita.
The temperature fell below freezing in the morning.

明日は気温が上がるそうです。
Ashita wa kion ga agaru sō desu.
I heard the temperature will rise tomorrow.

Official Japanese Words for Very Hot and Cold Days

Japanese weather reports use several temperature-based terms.

Weather Forecast Vocabulary

天気予報 (Tenki Yohō): Weather Forecast

天気予報を見ましたか？
Tenki yohō o mimashita ka?
Did you see the weather forecast?

降水確率 (Kōsui Kakuritsu): Probability of Precipitation

午後の降水確率は六十パーセントです。
Gogo no kōsui kakuritsu wa rokujū pāsento desu.
The chance of precipitation in the afternoon is 60 percent.

予想最高気温 / 予想最低気温

These mean the forecast maximum and minimum temperatures.

警報 (Keihō): Warning

注意報 (Chūihō): Advisory

These are formal disaster-prevention terms. The exact criteria differ by hazard and region.

How to Read Common Japanese Forecast Patterns

～のち～: Changing from One Condition to Another

The change does not necessarily happen exactly at noon. It means the dominant weather changes during the forecast period.

～時々～: Sometimes / Intermittently

～一時～: Temporarily

一時 means a temporary weather condition occupying a shorter part of the forecast period.

～から～: From a Time

夕方から雨です。
Yūgata kara ame desu.
It will rain from the evening.

～にかけて: From One Period or Place Through Another

今夜から明日の朝にかけて雪が降るでしょう。
Kon’ya kara ashita no asa ni kakete yuki ga furu deshō.
Snow will probably fall from tonight through tomorrow morning.

～見込みです: It Is Expected

午後は雨になる見込みです。
Gogo wa ame ni naru mikomi desu.
Rain is expected in the afternoon.

～おそれがあります: There Is a Risk

大雨になるおそれがあります。
Ōame ni naru osore ga arimasu.
There is a risk of heavy rain.

Useful Grammar for Talking About Weather

～そうです: It Looks Like…

雨が降りそうです。
It looks like it is going to rain.

雪になりそうです。
It looks like it may turn to snow.

～そうです: I Heard That…

明日は暑くなるそうです。
I heard it will become hot tomorrow.

The two uses have similar English translations but different grammar. 降りそう is based on visible signs, while 降るそう reports information you heard.

～かもしれない: Might

夜は雨かもしれない。
It might rain at night.

～でしょう: Probably / Will Likely

明日は晴れるでしょう。
It will probably be sunny tomorrow.

～ので / ～から: Because

暑いので、窓を開けます。
Because it is hot, I will open the window.

雨だから、傘を持っていこう。
Because it is raining, let’s take umbrellas.

Natural Weather Small Talk in Japanese

Japanese weather comments often use ね to invite agreement and create friendly small talk.

Japan’s Four Seasons and Weather

Japan stretches a long distance from north to south. Its climate ranges from subarctic conditions in northern Hokkaido to subtropical conditions in Okinawa, and the Pacific and Sea of Japan sides can experience very different seasonal weather.

Spring: 春 (Haru)

春は暖かくなります。
Haru wa atatakaku narimasu.
It becomes warmer in spring.

桜が咲いたら花見に行きます。
Sakura ga saitara hanami ni ikimasu.
I will go hanami viewing when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Read the complete guide: What Does 花見 (Hanami) Mean?

Rainy Season: 梅雨 (Tsuyu)

In most regions outside Hokkaido, the transition from spring into summer includes the rainy season.

Read the complete guide: What Does 梅雨 (Tsuyu) Mean?

Summer: 夏 (Natsu)

Summers are generally hot and humid across much of Japan, with regional differences. Hokkaido, Tōhoku, and high-elevation areas are generally cooler than many parts of eastern and western Japan.

Read the complete guide: What Does 暑い (Atsui) Mean?

Autumn: 秋 (Aki)

秋は涼しくて過ごしやすい。
Aki wa suzushikute sugoshiyasui.
Autumn is cool and comfortable.

Winter: 冬 (Fuyu)

Northern Japan and mountainous areas can experience severe cold and heavy snow. The Sea of Japan side often receives much more winter snow than many Pacific-side areas, while Okinawa and Amami have mild winters.

Read the complete guide: What Does 寒い (Samui) Mean?

Japanese Seasonal Weather Words Beyond the Four Seasons

Japanese Weather Onomatopoeia and Mimetic Words

Japanese uses vivid sound-symbolic and mimetic words to describe how weather feels or moves.

雨がしとしと降っている。
Ame ga shitoshito futte iru.
A gentle, steady rain is falling.

外は雨がざあざあ降っている。
Soto wa ame ga zāzā futte iru.
Rain is pouring outside.

雪がしんしんと降っている。
Yuki ga shinshin to futte iru.
Snow is falling quietly and steadily.

Japanese Weather Conversations

Asking About Today’s Weather

Deciding Whether to Take an Umbrella

Talking About Summer Heat

Talking About Winter Snow

Rainy-Season Small Talk

Planning Hanami

Natural Example Sentences

今日はよく晴れています。
Kyō wa yoku harete imasu.
It is beautifully sunny today.

午後から空が曇ってきた。
Gogo kara sora ga kumotte kita.
The sky became cloudy from the afternoon.

雨が降りそうだから、傘を持っていこう。
Ame ga furisō da kara, kasa o motte ikō.
It looks like rain, so let’s take an umbrella.

夜には雨がやむでしょう。
Yoru ni wa ame ga yamu deshō.
The rain will probably stop at night.

山では雪が降っています。
Yama de wa yuki ga futte imasu.
It is snowing in the mountains.

明日の朝は雪が積もるかもしれない。
Ashita no asa wa yuki ga tsumoru kamo shirenai.
Snow may accumulate tomorrow morning.

風が強いので、帽子に気をつけてください。
Kaze ga tsuyoi node, bōshi ni ki o tsukete kudasai.
The wind is strong, so be careful with your hat.

台風が近づいているので、外出を控えます。
Taifū ga chikazuite iru node, gaishutsu o hikaemasu.
A typhoon is approaching, so I will avoid going out.

朝は霧で前が見えにくかった。
Asa wa kiri de mae ga mienikukatta.
The fog made it difficult to see ahead in the morning.

雨上がりの空に虹が出た。
Ameagari no sora ni niji ga deta.
A rainbow appeared in the sky after the rain.

今日は昨日より暑い。
Kyō wa kinō yori atsui.
Today is hotter than yesterday.

夜になると急に寒くなる。
Yoru ni naru to kyū ni samuku naru.
It suddenly becomes cold at night.

春は暖かくて過ごしやすい。
Haru wa atatakakute sugoshiyasui.
Spring is warm and comfortable.

秋の朝は涼しい。
Aki no asa wa suzushii.
Autumn mornings are pleasantly cool.

梅雨は湿度が高くて蒸し暑い。
Tsuyu wa shitsudo ga takakute mushiatsui.
The rainy season is humid and muggy.

冬は空気が乾燥しやすい。
Fuyu wa kūki ga kansō shiyasui.
The air tends to become dry in winter.

明日の降水確率は七十パーセントです。
Ashita no kōsui kakuritsu wa nanajū pāsento desu.
Tomorrow’s chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

晴れのち曇りの予報です。
Hare nochi kumori no yohō desu.
The forecast is sunny, later cloudy.

今夜から明け方にかけて雨が降る見込みです。
Kon’ya kara akegata ni kakete ame ga furu mikomi desu.
Rain is expected from tonight through dawn.

大雨になるおそれがあります。
Ōame ni naru osore ga arimasu.
There is a risk of heavy rain.

桜が満開なので花見に行きました。
Sakura ga mankai na node hanami ni ikimashita.
I went hanami viewing because the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

天気がよければ公園で昼ご飯を食べよう。
Tenki ga yokereba kōen de hirugohan o tabeyō.
If the weather is good, let’s eat lunch in the park.

How Weather Words Appear in Anime and Casual Speech

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing Weather and Object Temperature

Mistake 2: Saying 雨がする

Mistake 3: Saying 風が降る

Mistake 4: Using 晴れ as a Verb

Mistake 5: Translating “Windy” Word for Word

Use 風が強い rather than searching for one exact adjective equivalent.

Mistake 6: Treating 梅雨 as One Rainy Day

梅雨 is the rainy-season period. One rainy day is 雨の日.

Mistake 7: Assuming Japan Has One Uniform Climate

Japan’s climate differs greatly by latitude, elevation, coast, and region. Hokkaido, Tokyo, mountainous areas, the Sea of Japan side, and Okinawa do not share identical weather.

Mistake 8: Reading Forecast Words Too Literally

晴れのち曇り means the dominant weather changes during the period. It does not automatically mean “sunny in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon.”

Mistake 9: Confusing Weather with Climate

Use 天気 for short-term weather and 気候 for a region’s long-term climate.

Mistake 10: Assuming “Good Weather” Always Means Sunny

Whether weather is “good” depends on purpose. Rain may be welcome during drought, and snow may be welcome at a ski resort. Specific descriptions such as 晴れ and 雨 are clearer.

FAQ About Japanese Weather Words

What is the Japanese word for weather?

天気 (tenki) is the most common everyday word for weather.

How do you ask “How is the weather?” in Japanese?

Say 天気はどうですか？ or 今日の天気はどうですか？.

How do you say “It is sunny” in Japanese?

Say 晴れです or 晴れています. The noun is 晴れ, and the verb “to clear up” is 晴れる.

How do you say “It is cloudy” in Japanese?

Say 曇りです or 曇っています.

How do you say “It is raining” in Japanese?

Say 雨が降っています. In an obvious situation, simply saying 雨です is also natural.

How do you say “It is snowing” in Japanese?

Say 雪が降っています.

How do you say “It is windy” in Japanese?

The most natural beginner expression is 風が強いです, meaning “the wind is strong.”

How do you say “It is hot” in Japanese?

Say 暑い or politely 暑いです. Use 熱い instead for a hot object, food, or drink.

How do you say “It is cold” in Japanese?

Say 寒い or politely 寒いです. Use 冷たい for a cold object, drink, food, or touch.

What does mushiatsui mean?

蒸し暑い means “hot and humid” or “muggy.”

What does tsuyu mean?

梅雨 means Japan’s early-summer rainy season.

What does hanami mean?

花見 means flower viewing and usually refers to enjoying cherry blossoms in spring.

What is a weather forecast in Japanese?

天気予報 (tenki yohō) means weather forecast.

What does 晴れのち曇り mean?

It means “sunny, later cloudy.” The dominant weather changes from sunshine to cloud during the forecast period.

What does 降水確率 mean?

降水確率 (kōsui kakuritsu) means probability or chance of precipitation.

What is the difference between 天気 and 気候?

天気 is short-term weather. 気候 is the long-term climate of a place.

Does Japan have the same weather everywhere?

No. Japan extends from subarctic northern regions to subtropical southern islands, and weather differs by latitude, coast, elevation, and season.

What are the four seasons in Japanese?

春 (haru) is spring, 夏 (natsu) is summer, 秋 (aki) is autumn, and 冬 (fuyu) is winter.

What is the best way to memorize Japanese weather vocabulary?

Learn words in contrast pairs and sentence patterns: 晴れ vs 曇り, 暑い vs 寒い, 暖かい vs 涼しい, 雨が降る vs 雨がやむ, and 風が吹く vs 風がおさまる.

Japanese Weather Words by Category

A Beginner’s 15-Word Weather Study List

Summary: Essential Japanese Weather Words

Continue with the Four Theme 25 Guides

References

• Japan Meteorological Agency: Weather Terminology — definition of 天気 and official weather categories.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Clouds and Atmospheric Phenomena FAQ — official distinction between 晴れ, 曇り, and 快晴.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Precipitation Terminology — rain, drizzle, thunderstorm, prolonged rain, snow, sleet, graupel, and hail.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Wind Terminology — wind direction, wind speed, strong wind, violent wind, and related expressions.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Temperature and Humidity Terminology — temperature, humidity, hot and cold expressions, temperature-based day names, and seasonal terms.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: 酷暑日 — the official 2026 designation for days reaching a maximum temperature of 40°C or higher.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Ice, Frost, Fog, Thunder, and Sunshine Terminology.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Seasonal Phenomena — 梅雨, 春一番, cherry blossom flowering, autumn rain, first frost, and first snow.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: General Information on Climate of Japan — regional differences from northern Japan to Okinawa and Amami.
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Overview of Japan’s Climate — seasonal pressure patterns, rainfall, snow, temperature, and regional climate.
• Japan National Tourism Organization: Seasons and Climate — Japan’s regional and seasonal climate variation.
• Kotobank: 天気 — dictionary meanings and comparison with 天候.