Lesson 4: Weather Forecast (天気予報)
Learn how to talk about weather, make small talk about weather, understand weather forecasts, and read/write about weather on social media.
In this lesson, you will learn how to exchange greetings while talking about weather, describe past and present weather conditions, understand weather forecasts, read and write simple social media posts about weather, and use weather-related expressions in daily conversations.
Key topics:
- ・Talking about weather conditions (どんなてんきですか?)
- ・Using ね for seeking agreement/sympathy
- ・Past and non-past forms for weather
- ・Using ___ています for current states
- ・Making predictions with ___でしょう
- ・Understanding weather forecasts
- ・Reading and writing weather-related social media posts
- ・Talking about typhoons and weather phenomena
Vocabulary
1
はれる
hareru
晴れる
to clear / to fair
Example
あした、そらが晴れますか.
Ashita, sora ga haremasu ka.
Will the sky clear tomorrow?
2
くもる
kumoru
曇る
to become cloudy
Example
ごごからそらが曇ります.
Gogo kara sora ga kumorimasu.
The sky becomes cloudy from the afternoon.
3
ふる
furu
降る
to fall (rain / snow, etc.)
Example
ふゆはよくゆきが降ります.
Fuyu wa yoku yuki ga furimasu.
In winter, it often snows.
4
ふく
fuku
吹く
to blow
Example
あきにつめたいかぜが吹きます.
Aki ni tsumetai kaze ga fukimasu.
Cold wind blows in autumn.
5
なる
naru
鳴る
to clap / to roll
Example
いま、かみなりが鳴ります.
Ima, kaminari ga narimasu.
Thunder claps now.
6
いやになる
iya ni naru
嫌になる
to be annoying
Example
まいにちあめで嫌になります.
Mainichi ame de iya ni narimasu.
I get annoyed because of rain every day.
7
やむ
yamu
止む
to stop
Example
あめがやみました.
Ame ga yamimashita.
The rain stopped.
8
しぬ
shinu
死ぬ
to die
Example
ふゆになるとはなが死にます.
Fuyu ni naru to hana ga shinimasu.
When winter comes, flowers die.
9
さわる
sawaru
触る
to touch
Example
ゆきを触りました.
Yuki o sawarimashita.
I touched snow.
10
おくれる
okureru
遅れる
to be late
Example
でんしゃが遅れました.
Densha ga okuremashita.
The train was late.
11
てんき
tenki
天気
weather
Example
まいにち天気をチェックします.
Mainichi tenki o chekkushimasu.
I check the weather every day.
12
はれ
hare
晴れ
sunny / fine (weather)
Example
晴れのひはさんぽします.
Hare no hi wa sanpo shimasu.
I take a walk on sunny days.
13
いいてんき
ii tenki
いい天気
fine weather
Example
いい天気のひにピクニックをします.
Ii tenki no hi ni pikunikku o shimasu.
I have a picnic on fine weather days.
14
くもり
kumori
曇り
cloudy
Example
曇りのひはいえでほんをよみます.
Kumori no hi wa ie de hon o yomimasu.
On cloudy days, I read books at home.
15
あめ
ame
雨
rain
Example
雨のひはバスにのります.
Ame no hi wa basu ni norimasu.
On rainy days, I take the bus.
16
ゆき
yuki
雪
snow
Example
雪のひはいえにいます.
Yuki no hi wa ie ni imasu.
On snowy days, I stay home.
17
かぜ
kaze
風
wind
Example
きょうはつよい風がふきます.
Kyō wa tsuyoi kaze ga fukimasu.
Strong wind blows today.
18
かみなり
kaminari
雷
thunder / lightning
Example
雷がなりました.
Kaminari ga narimashita.
Thunder clapped.
19
たいふう
taifū
台風
typhoon
Example
台風がきています.
Taifū ga kite imasu.
A typhoon is coming.
20
きおん
kion
気温
(air) temperature
Example
きょうの気温はなんどですか.
Kyō no kion wa nan-do desu ka.
What is today's temperature?
21
ゆうべ
yūbe
夕べ
last night
Example
夕べ、なにをたべましたか.
Yūbe, nani o tabemashita ka.
What did you eat last night?
22
よなか
yonaka
夜中
during the night
Example
夜中にでんわがなりました.
Yonaka ni denwa ga narimashita.
The phone rang during the night.
23
いちにち
ichinichi
一日
all day
Example
きのうは一日はたらきました.
Kinō wa ichinichi hatarakimashita.
Yesterday I worked all day.
24
そと
soto
外
outside
Example
こどもたちは外であそびます.
Kodomotachi wa soto de asobimasu.
Children play outside.
25
まち
machi
町
town
Example
この町でうまれました.
Kono machi de umaremashita.
I was born in this town.
26
ふくそう
fukusō
服装
clothing
Example
ふゆはあたたかい服装をします.
Fuyu wa atatakai fukusō o shimasu.
In winter, I wear warm clothing.
27
アイスクリーム
aisukurīmu
-
ice cream
Example
あいすくりーむを下さい.
Aisukuriimu o kudasai.
Ice cream, please.
28
たいへん
taihen
大変
tough
Example
けんせつのしごとはたいへんです.
Kensetsu no shigoto wa taihen desu.
Construction work is tough.
29
すごい
sugoi
-
heavy / strong
Example
すごいあめがふりました.
Sugoi ame ga furimashita.
Heavy rain fell.
30
つよい
tsuyoi
強い
strong
Example
強いかぜがわたしのぼうしをとばしました.
Tsuyoi kaze ga watashi no bōshi o tobashimashita.
Strong wind blew my hat away.
31
つめたい
tsumetai
冷たい
cold (to the touch)
Example
冷たいものをさわりました.
Tsumetai mono o sawarimashita.
I touched something cold.
32
まっしろ(な)
masshiro (na)
真っ白
pure white
Example
ゆきで真っ白になりました.
Yuki de masshiro ni narimashita.
It became pure white with snow.
33
とっても
tottemo
-
very (casual of とても)
Example
とってもたのしかったです.
Tottemo tanoshikatta desu.
It was very fun.
34
まだ
mada
-
not yet
Example
まだしごとがおわりません.
Mada shigoto ga owarimasen.
Work is not yet finished.
35
ただ
tada
-
but
Example
きょうははれです.ただ、さむいです.
Kyō wa hare desu. Tada, samui desu.
Today is sunny. But it's cold.
36
おでかけください
odekake kudasai
お出かけください
Please go out.
Example
どうぞお出かけください.
Dōzo odekake kudasai.
Please go out.
Conversation
1
ほんとうですか
hontō desu ka
That's true. / Is that so?
Example Usage
はい、本当です.
Hai, hontō desu.
Yes, it's true.
2
__ ですね
desu ne
__ , isn't it? (seeking agreement)
Example Usage
きょうはいいてんきですね.
Kyō wa ii tenki desu ne.
It's nice weather today, isn't it?
3
__ からあつい
kara atsui
hot since __
Example Usage
あさからあついですね.
Asa kara atsui desu ne.
It's hot since morning, isn't it?
4
まいにち __ ふる
mainichi ___furu
it rains __ every day
Example Usage
まいにち、よくふりますね.
Mainichi, yoku furimasu ne.
It rains a lot every day, doesn't it?
5
__ はすごい __ でした
wa sugoi ___deshita
the __ was terrible (heavy)
Example Usage
きのうはすごいあめでしたね.
Kinō wa sugoi ame deshita ne.
Yesterday's rain was terrible, wasn't it?
6
__ くなる
ku naru
to become __
Example Usage
だいぶあたたかくなりましたね.
Daibu atataka ku narimashita ne.
It has become considerably warmer, hasn't it?
7
__ ふくそうでおでかけください
fukusō de odekake kudasai
please go out in __ clothing
Example Usage
あたたかいふくそうでおでかけください.
Atatakai fukusō de odekake kudasai.
Please go out in warm clothing.
8
いやになりますね
iya ni narimasu ne
It makes you sick of it / it gets depressing, doesn't it?
Example Usage
毎日あめばかりで嫌になりますね.
Mainichi ame bakari de iya ni narimasu ne.
It gets depressing when it rains every day, doesn't it?
Kanji
1
今
now
今🎬
now
Example
今、何時ですか.
Ima, nan ji desu ka.
What time is it now?
2
天気
weather
天🎬
heaven, sky
気🎬
spirit, energy
Example
まいにち天気をチェックします.
Mainichi tenki o chekkushimasu.
I check the weather every day.
3
強い
strong
強🎬
strong
Example
強いかぜがわたしのぼうしをとばしました.
Tsuyoi kaze ga watashi no bōshi o tobashimashita.
Strong wind blew my hat away.
4
昨日
yesterday
昨🎬
previous
日🎬
day
Example
きのう ともだちに あいました.
Kinou tomodachi ni aimashita.
I met a friend yesterday.
5
明日
tomorrow
明🎬
bright, clear
日🎬
day
Example
あした あいましょう.
Ashita aimashou.
Let's meet tomorrow.
6
毎日
every day
毎🎬
every
日🎬
day
Example
まいにち７時におきます.
Mainichi shichi-ji ni okimasu.
I wake up at 7:00 every day.
7
晴れ
sunny, clear weather
晴🎬
clear up
Example
晴れのひはさんぽします.
Hare no hi wa sanpo shimasu.
I take a walk on sunny days.
8
雨
rain
雨🎬
rain
Example
雨のひはバスにのります.
Ame no hi wa basu ni norimasu.
On rainy days, I take the bus.
9
雪
snow
雪🎬
snow
Example
雪のひはいえにいます.
Yuki no hi wa ie ni imasu.
On snowy days, I stay home.
10
風
wind
風🎬
wind
Example
きょうはつよい風がふきます.
Kyō wa tsuyoi kaze ga fukimasu.
Strong wind blows today.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: S ね for seeking agreement/sympathy
Structure: [Sentence] + ね
Add ね at the end of a sentence to seek agreement, confirm shared information, or express sympathy. It's like adding ' __ , isn't it?' or ' __ , right?' in English. Essential for natural conversation, especially in small talk about weather or feelings.
How to use: Attach ね after the final verb, adjective, or copula (です/ます). Use rising intonation for a question, falling for a statement of shared feeling. Polite and plain forms both work with ね.
💡 Pro Tip: ね is not just for agreement—it softens statements and shows you care about the listener's reaction. Overusing ね can sound pushy; use it when you genuinely expect shared experience. Compare: よ gives new information, ね confirms shared info.
Examples
きょうはいいてんきですね.
Kyō wa ii tenki desu ne.
→ It's nice weather today, isn't it?
さむいですね.そろそろこたつをだしましょうか.
Samui desu ne. Sorosoro kotatsu o dashimashō ka.
→ It's cold, isn't it? Shall we take out the kotatsu soon?
Rule 2: Non-past / Past forms for weather
Structure: Non-past: です / ます / い-adjective (い) | Past: でした / ました / かったです
Use non-past forms to describe current or future weather, and past forms for weather that already happened. Conjugation patterns differ: nouns/な-adjectives use です→でした, verbs use ます→ました, い-adjectives change い→かったです.
How to use: For い-adjectives: drop い → かったです (e.g., あつい → あつかったです). For nouns: add でした (e.g., あめ → あめでした). For verbs in polite form: change ます to ました.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't confuse いい (good) past form: よかったです (not いかったです). For negative past, conjugate the negative helper: あつくない → あつくなかったです. Remember: weather reports often use plain forms, but conversation uses polite forms with です/ます.
Examples
きょうはあついです.
Kyō wa atsui desu.
→ Today is hot.
きのうはすごいあめでした.
Kinō wa sugoi ame deshita.
→ Yesterday was heavy rain.
Rule 3: V-ています for current states
Structure: Verb て-form + います
Use て-form + います to describe a current ongoing action or a resulting state. For weather, it's used for conditions that are happening now (raining, snowing, being cloudy) or a state that continues (the sun is shining).
How to use: Form by changing the verb to て-form and adding います. For weather verbs: ふる (fall) → ふっています (raining/snowing), はれる (clear up) → はれています (is clear/sunny). Use まだ + ています for 'still ___ing'.
💡 Pro Tip: Some weather verbs like ふる (rain/snow) describe actions, so ふっています means 'it is raining now'. For a state like そらがあおい (sky is blue) you don't use ています. Also, ___ていました is past ongoing: 'it was raining'.
Examples
あめがふっています.
Ame ga futte imasu.
→ It is raining.
いまもすこしふっています.
Ima mo sukoshi futte imasu.
→ It is still raining a little.
Rule 4: __ でしょう for predictions
Structure: Verb / Adjective plain form + でしょう | Noun / な-adjective + でしょう
Use でしょう to express a prediction, probability, or guess (50-80% certainty). It's common in weather forecasts, polite speculation, or soft suggestions. Replaces です/ます with でしょう in polite speech.
How to use: Attach でしょう to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives. For nouns and な-adjectives, add でしょう directly (without だ). For negative forms, use ないでしょう.
💡 Pro Tip: でしょう is politer than だろう (plain). In casual speech, use だろう or just rising intonation. To soften a statement, use かもしれません (maybe) for lower certainty. Also, でしょう？ with rising intonation asks for agreement: いいでしょう？ (Good, right?)
Examples
あしたははれるでしょう.
Ashita wa hareru deshō.
→ It will probably be sunny tomorrow.
あめはこんばんやむでしょう.
Ame wa konban yamu deshō.
→ The rain will probably stop tonight.
Exercises
Question 1: Choose the correct ending to make a natural statement seeking agreement about the weather.
きょうはいいてんきです______.
Question 2: Choose the correct reading of 今
______、何時ですか.
Question 3: 'Today is hot.'
きょうは______.
Question 4: Choose the correct reading of 天気
______はいいです.
Question 5: 'Yesterday was heavy rain.'
きのうはすごいあめ______.
Question 6: Choose the correct reading of 強い
彼は______です.
Question 7: Choose the correct sentence meaning 'It is raining.'
Question 8: Choose the correct reading of 昨日
______は忙しかったです.
Question 9: 'It will probably be sunny tomorrow.'
あしたは______でしょう.
Question 10: Choose the correct reading of 明日
______は休みです.
Question 11: What does 'さむいですね' mean in this context?
さむいですね.そろそろこたつをだしましょうか.
Question 12: Choose the correct reading of 毎日
______勉強します.
Question 13: 'Yesterday was cold.'
きのうは______.
Question 14: Choose the correct reading of 晴れ
今日は______です.
Question 15: What does 'いまもすこしふっています' mean?
Question 16: Choose the correct reading of 雨
______が降っています.
Question 17: 'It probably won't rain tomorrow.'
あしたはあめが______でしょう.
Question 18: Choose the correct reading of 雪
______が降りました.
Question 19: Choose the best translation for the sentence with ね.
そろそろいきましょうね.
Question 20: Choose the correct reading of 風
______が強いです.