New here? This is lesson 148 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Weather forecast in Japanese
Rain is already falling on the Yanaka lane when Leo ducks into Kissa Hotaru. Masako checks tomorrow on her phone, and Goro glances at the old umbrella in the stand.
You will say it is raining now, ask if tomorrow will be wet, and name the rainy season.
You will also read a chance of rain, advise an umbrella, and say that tomorrow turns cold.
Goro looks, but he does not take the old black umbrella. Leo will bring his own.
By the end of this lesson
Read a weather forecast and ask if it will rain tomorrow.
- 雨が降っています。It's raining.
- 明日は雨ですか。Will it rain tomorrow?
- 梅雨ですね。It's the rainy season.
- 傘を持っていったほうがいいです。You'd better take an umbrella.
- 雨の確率は高いです。The chance of rain is high.
- 明日は寒くなります。It will turn cold tomorrow.
Scene — rain on the lane
Outside Kissa Hotaru, rain hits the Yanaka lane. Leo shakes his clear umbrella at the door and steps in.
Masako stands at the wooden counter with her phone, checking tomorrow's forecast.
In the corner booth, Goro sits over untouched blend coffee and thick toast. He looks once at the umbrella stand, then stays in his seat.
Learn — tomorrow's forecast
These six lines cover rain now, a question about tomorrow, and the rainy season.
You also get a chance-of-rain line, polite umbrella advice, and a cold turn.
雨が降っています。
It's raining.
When to use it: Use this for rain falling right now.
ている here shows the rain is falling now.
Say it: Pause briefly before て; the small っ marks the doubled consonant.
明日は雨ですか。
Will it rain tomorrow?
When to use it: Ask this when you want tomorrow's rain forecast.
は marks tomorrow as the topic of the question.
梅雨ですね。
It's the rainy season.
When to use it: Use this in early summer when rain keeps coming.
ね invites the other person to agree with you.
傘を持っていったほうがいいです。
You'd better take an umbrella.
When to use it: Give this advice when rain looks likely.
ほうがいい makes this advice, not an order.
Say it: Keep the small っ in 持って.
雨の確率は高いです。
The chance of rain is high.
When to use it: Use this when a forecast gives a high rain chance.
の links rain to the chance that follows it.
明日は寒くなります。
It will turn cold tomorrow.
When to use it: Use this when tomorrow will become colder.
なります after く shows a change into that state.
Story — the stand stays still
Masako reads tomorrow's rain from her phone. Goro looks at the stand but does not touch the old umbrella. Leo will bring his own.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Rain streaks the glass. Leo sets his clear umbrella by the door.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.- Leo今日は雨です。It's rainy today.
Masako雨が降っています。It's raining.- Goro looks at the umbrella stand. He does not stand up.
Goro梅雨ですね。It's the rainy season.- Leo明日は雨ですか。Will it rain tomorrow?
- Masako雨の確率は高いです。The chance of rain is high.
- Goroそうですか。I see.
- Masako明日は寒くなります。It will turn cold tomorrow.
- Goro's blend coffee sits untouched. He glances at the stand once more.
- Goro傘を持っていったほうがいいです。You'd better take an umbrella.
- Leo自分の傘を持っていきます。I'll take my own umbrella.
- Masako気をつけてください。Take care.
- Leoありがとうございます。Thank you.
Practice — pick the right weather
Eleven short tasks wait in this round for you. You will listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and build a line.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
明日は雨ですか。Drop the English here雨の確率は高いです。Drop the English here明日は寒くなります。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already said hello. Ask Masako if it will rain tomorrow.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Will it rain tomorrow?
明日は雨____か。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
梅雨ですね。
Build the line
Build the line
The chance of rain is high.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
The forecast says tomorrow turns cold. Fix the word.
明日は____なります。
Pick the reply
Masako says:
Pick the reply
雨の確率は高いです。
The chance of rain is high.
And you reply with:
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
This line means it is rainy today.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at the counter on a wet afternoon. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Leo (you)Tell Masako that rain is falling now.
Tell Masako that rain is falling now.
雨が降っています。
It's raining.
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 雨が降っています。 | It's raining. | |
| 明日は雨ですか。 | Will it rain tomorrow? | |
| 梅雨ですね。 | It's the rainy season. | |
| 傘を持っていったほうがいいです。 | You'd better take an umbrella. | |
| 雨の確率は高いです。 | The chance of rain is high. | |
| 明日は寒くなります。 | It will turn cold tomorrow. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep this forecast in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before you leave keeps tomorrow's rain ready.
Open Yak Cards