2 · 40 words

Weather and seasons

Sun, rain, wind and snow, the four seasons, and how warm it is.

Chinese does not say “it rains”: rain and snow “come down”, 下雨(xiàyǔ) and 下雪(xiàxuě), and wind “blows”, 刮风(guāfēng). These are verbs with their object inside, so they split when something is added: 下(xià)了(le)一(yì)场(cháng)大雨(dàyǔ). The seasons all end in 天(tiān), and a temperature is counted in 度(dù), Celsius unless something else is said.

The words

Verb (10)

下雨(xiàyǔ)to rainVerb2

外面(wàimian)在(zài)下雨(xiàyǔ)，你(nǐ)带(dài)伞(sǎn)了(le)吗(ma)？It is raining outside. Have you got an umbrella?

Separable: 下(xià)了(le)一(yì)天(tiān)的(de)雨(yǔ), it rained all day.

下雪(xiàxuě)to snowVerb2

北京(Běijīng)冬天(dōngtiān)常常(chángcháng)下雪(xiàxuě)吗(ma)？Does it often snow in Beijing in winter?

刮风(guāfēng)to be windy; the wind blowsVerb2

今天(jīntiān)刮风(guāfēng)了(le)，外面(wàimian)很(hěn)冷(lěng)。It is windy today, and cold outside.

Separable: 刮(guā)大(dà)风(fēng), a strong wind is blowing.

打伞(dǎsǎn)to hold up an umbrellaVerb2

雨(yǔ)不(bú)大(dà)，很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)没(méi)打伞(dǎsǎn)。The rain is light, and lots of people aren't using an umbrella.

天黑(tiānhēi)to get dark (in the evening)Verb2

冬天(dōngtiān)五(wǔ)点(diǎn)就(jiù)天黑(tiānhēi)了(le)。In winter it is already dark by five.

天亮(tiānliàng)to get light; daybreakVerb2

夏天(xiàtiān)天亮(tiānliàng)得(de)很(hěn)早(zǎo)。In summer it gets light very early.

变(biàn)to change; to becomeVerb2

这儿(zhèr)的(de)天气(tiānqì)变(biàn)得(de)很(hěn)快(kuài)。The weather here changes quickly.

停(tíng)to stopVerb2

雨(yǔ)停(tíng)了(le)吗(ma)？Has the rain stopped?

怕冷(pàlěng)to feel the cold easilyVerb2

我(wǒ)很(hěn)怕冷(pàlěng)，冬天(dōngtiān)不(bù)想(xiǎng)出门(chūmén)。I feel the cold badly, so in winter I don't want to go out.

出汗(chūhàn)to sweatVerb2

天(tiān)太(tài)热(rè)了(le)，走(zǒu)几(jǐ)步(bù)就(jiù)出汗(chūhàn)。It is so hot that you sweat after a few steps.

This list belongs to Nature, weather and the environment — nine lists and 361 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.