10 Japanese Expressions for Talking About the Weather | Useful Phrases for Small Talk
We have compiled 10 of the most common weather expressions used for small talk with Japanese people.
These are natural phrases you can use right away in everyday conversations without sounding awkward.
Try choosing the right expression for various weather conditions like rain, snow, and wind.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 今日はいい天気ですね | きょうはいいてんきですね | The weather is nice today |
| 雨が降りそうです | あめがふりそうです | It looks like it's going to rain |
| 傘を持ってきましたか | かさをもってきましたか | Did you bring an umbrella? |
| とても寒いですね | とてもさむいですね | It's very cold |
| 今日は暑いですね | きょうはあついですね | It's really hot today, isn't it? |
| 明日の天気はどうでしょうか | あしたのてんきはどうでしょうか | What will the weather be like tomorrow? |
| 雨がやみました | あめがやみました | The rain has stopped |
| 風が強いです | かぜがつよいです | The wind is strong |
| 雪が降っています | ゆきがふっています | It's snowing |
| 天気が急に変わりました | てんきがきゅうにかわりました | The weather suddenly changed |
Item by item
Reading: きょうはいいてんきですね
The weather is nice today
This is the most basic and frequently used greeting. By adding 'ね' (ne) at the end, you gently seek the listener's agreement and start a conversation smoothly.
Reading: あめがふりそうです
It looks like it's going to rain
Attaching 'そうです' (sou desu) to the masu-stem of a verb expresses a visual guess ('it looks like...'). It's great to use when the sky gets cloudy.
Reading: かさをもってきましたか
Did you bring an umbrella?
A warm expression to show you care about the other person when it looks like rain or is already raining.
Reading: とてもさむいですね
It's very cold
A staple phrase for winter small talk. You can also swap 'とても' (totemo, very) with '少し' (sukoshi, a little) depending on the situation.
Reading: きょうはあついですね
It's really hot today, isn't it?
A frequently used expression in summer. Using '暑い' (atsui, hot) is a great way to build rapport through shared experience.
Reading: あしたのてんきはどうでしょうか
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
A polite expression used to ask about the weather ahead of tomorrow's plans.
Reading: あめがやみました
The rain has stopped
'The rain stops' is '雨がやむ' (ame ga yamu). It uses the verb 止む (yamu), meaning 'to stop' (for rain/snow).
Reading: かぜがつよいです
The wind is strong
In Japanese, strong winds are generally described as '風が強い' (kaze ga tsuyoi, the wind is strong) rather than 'the wind blows hard'.
Reading: ゆきがふっています
It's snowing
When talking about ongoing weather conditions, use the '~ています' (~te imasu) form.
Reading: てんきがきゅうにかわりました
The weather suddenly changed
A useful phrase when it's sunny and then suddenly gets cloudy or starts raining.
Practice with examples
How to decide when unsure
- When starting a conversation about the weather, it is generally natural to add '〜ね' (ne) at the end of the sentence to invite empathy and a response from the listener.
- When saying that rain or snow 'stops', it is common to use 止む (yamu) instead of 止まる (tomaru).
Common mistakes
In English, we might say 'the rain is coming', but in Japanese, rain or snow falling from above is expressed with 降る (furu, to fall).
Wrong example: 雨が来ます。(X)/Correct example: 雨が降ります。(O)
Remember to use 吹く (fuku, to blow) for wind, and 降る (furu, to fall) for rain and snow.
Mini quiz
Which of the following is the most natural Japanese expression for 'The rain has stopped'?
One-line summary
By learning these 10 weather-related small talk expressions, you'll be able to naturally start conversations even with Japanese people you meet for the first time.
FAQ
How do I distinguish between 暑い (atsui) and 暖かい (atatakai)?
Generally, '暖かい' (atatakai) is used for pleasantly warm weather, while '暑い' (atsui) is used when the temperature is high enough to make you sweat.
Can I say '天気が悪い' (tenki ga warui) when the weather is bad?
Yes, it's a very natural expression. People often say '天気が悪いですね' (The weather is bad, isn't it) to refer to rainy or heavily overcast days.