New here? This is lesson 59 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Hot, cold, rainy in Japanese
Rain hits the Yanaka lane on Leo's way to Kissa Hotaru. He leaves his clear umbrella in the stand. The old black one does not move.
Goro looks up from thick toast and a blend coffee he has not touched. He says it is cold, then the sentence drifts away.
You will name the weather you see: cold, hot, nice, humid, rainy, or cloudy.
Stay polite. A short line is enough for small talk.
By the end of this lesson
Describe today's weather.
- 寒いですね。It's cold, isn't it?
- 暑いですね。It's hot, isn't it?
- いい天気ですね。Nice weather, isn't it?
- 蒸し暑いですね。It's humid, isn't it?
- 今日は雨です。It's rainy today.
- 曇りです。It's cloudy.
Scene — rain on the glass
Yanaka is wet this afternoon. Leo opens the door of Kissa Hotaru and shakes rain from his clear umbrella. Masako looks up from the wooden counter.
In the corner booth, Goro occupies two red seats. His blend coffee sits full. He has not taken a sip.
Learn — name the weather
These six lines name the weather in front of you: cold, hot, nice, humid, rain, and cloud.
Learn each as one piece, then use it at the window.
寒いですね。
It's cold, isn't it?
When to use it: Use this when you and someone both feel the cold.
Learn it as one piece for cold weather.
暑いですね。
It's hot, isn't it?
When to use it: Use this when the day feels too warm.
Learn it as one piece for hot weather.
いい天気ですね。
Nice weather, isn't it?
When to use it: Use this on a clear, pleasant day.
Learn it as one piece for nice weather.
Say it: Say いい for two beats.
蒸し暑いですね。
It's humid, isn't it?
When to use it: Use this when the air feels heavy and warm.
Learn it as one piece for sticky weather.
今日は雨です。
It's rainy today.
When to use it: Use this to say rain is falling today.
Learn it as one piece for a rainy day.
Say it: 今日 has a long o; keep both beats.
曇りです。
It's cloudy.
When to use it: Use this when the sky is grey, with no sun.
Learn it as one piece for a cloudy sky.
Story — coffee still full
Rain hits the glass. Goro says it is cold, then the next words do not come.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Rain hits the lane. Leo sets his umbrella in the stand. The old black one stays.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.
Goro寒いですね。It's cold, isn't it?- Goro opens his mouth again. Nothing comes. His blend coffee sits full.
- Leo今日は雨です。It's rainy today.
Masako曇りです。It's cloudy.- Leoあの、蒸し暑いですね。Um, it's humid, isn't it?
- Masako暑いですね。It's hot, isn't it?
- Goro looks at the wet glass, then at his horns, then at the toast.
- Goroええと、いい天気ですね。Um, nice weather, isn't it?
- Masakoまだ雨ですよ。It's still raining.
Practice — pick the weather
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. 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
暑いですね。Drop the English hereいい天気ですね。Drop the English here蒸し暑いですね。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Rain hits the lane. Masako looks at your wet jacket. Tell her rain is falling today.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
It's rainy today.
今日は____です。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
曇りです。
Pick the reply
Goro says:
Pick the reply
今日は雨ですね。
It's rainy today, isn't it?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
Nice weather, isn't it?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
The kissa feels too hot inside. Fix the weather word.
____ですね。
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You enter Kissa Hotaru at 8 a.m. Masako has just greeted you, and you answer with a morning greeting.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo by the wet kissa window. 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.
- Masakoこんにちは。Hello.
- Leo (you)Tell her it is rainy today.
Tell her it is rainy today.
今日は雨です。
It's rainy today.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 寒いですね。 | It's cold, isn't it? | |
| 暑いですね。 | It's hot, isn't it? | |
| いい天気ですね。 | Nice weather, isn't it? | |
| 蒸し暑いですね。 | It's humid, isn't it? | |
| 今日は雨です。 | It's rainy today. | |
| 曇りです。 | It's cloudy. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
Want the next lesson in your inbox?
Get the next lesson by email, one a day.
Join the newsletterDaily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.
Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these weather lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps weather ready at the window.
Open Yak Cards