Learning a new language can be an exhilarating adventure, and acquiring the vocabulary for everyday concepts like the weather and seasons is essential. Japanese, with its rich expressions and nuance, offers a wide array of terms related to meteorological conditions and the cyclical patterns of the year. Here is a list of common weather and season-related vocabulary in Japanese to get you started.

天気 (Tenki) – Weather
The general term for ‘weather’ in Japanese.
明日の天気予報は何ですか？ (Ashita no tenki yohō wa nan desu ka?) – What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow?

晴れ (Hare) – Sunny
Used when describing a clear, sunny day.
今日は晴れですね。(Kyō wa hare desu ne.) – It is sunny today, isn’t it?

曇り (Kumori) – Cloudy
This is the word for when the sky is covered with clouds.
明日は一日中曇りの予定です。(Ashita wa ichinichijū kumori no yotei desu.) – It’s expected to be cloudy all day tomorrow.

雨 (Ame) – Rain
The Japanese word for ‘rain’.
雨が降っています。(Ame ga futte imasu.) – It is raining.

雪 (Yuki) – Snow
The term for ‘snow’.
雪が積もっている。(Yuki ga tsumotte iru.) – The snow is piling up.

雷 (Kaminari) – Thunder
Referring specifically to ‘thunder’.
雷が怖いです。(Kaminari ga kowai desu.) – I am scared of thunder.

台風 (Taifū) – Typhoon
The Japanese word for ‘typhoon’.
台風が近づいています。(Taifū ga chikazuite imasu.) – A typhoon is approaching.

寒い (Samui) – Cold
Describes when the temperature is low.
今日は寒いから、暖かくして出かけましょう。(Kyō wa samui kara, atatakaku shite dekakemashou.) – It’s cold today, so let’s dress warmly before we go out.

暑い (Atsui) – Hot
Used when the weather is hot.
暑い日が続いています。(Atsui hi ga tsuzuite imasu.) – Hot days are continuing.

春 (Haru) – Spring
Referring to the season of ‘spring’.
春にはたくさんの花が咲きます。(Haru ni wa takusan no hana ga sakimasu.) – Many flowers bloom in spring.

夏 (Natsu) – Summer
The Japanese word for ‘summer’.
夏は海で泳ぎたいです。(Natsu wa umi de oyogitai desu.) – I want to swim in the sea in the summer.

秋 (Aki) – Autumn/Fall
This word represents the season of ‘autumn’ or ‘fall’.
秋には紅葉が美しいです。(Aki ni wa kōyō ga utsukushii desu.) – The autumn leaves are beautiful in the fall.

冬 (Fuyu) – Winter
The term for ‘winter’.
冬になると雪がたくさん降ります。(Fuyu ni naru to yuki ga takusan furimasu.) – A lot of snow falls when it’s winter.

By learning these key vocabulary terms, you can not only begin to express your own observations about the weather and the changing seasons in Japanese but also understand others when they describe the environment around them. Weather and seasons are common topics of conversation in any language, so mastering these terms will serve you well in your language learning journey. As you continue to practice your Japanese, you’ll find that being able to chat about something as universal as the weather can create a connection across cultures, and it will also give you the confidence to branch out into more complex conversations. Ganbatte (good luck)!