氣候變化 / 气候变化
qìhòu biànhuà
The English phrase 'climate change' is translated into Chinese as 氣候變化 / 气候变化 (qìhòu biànhuà). If unsure, use 氣候變化 / 气候变化. Wiktionary also lists 氣候變遷 / 气候变迁 (qìhòu biànqiān).
Meaning: changes in the Earth's climate (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 氣候變化 / 气候变化 | qìhòu biànhuà |
| 氣候變遷 / 气候变迁 | qìhòu biànqiān |
This noun refers to changes in the Earth's climate.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 氣候變化 is composed of 氣候, meaning climate and 變化, meaning change or variation.
Which one should you use?
While 氣候變化 is a general term for climate change, 氣候變遷 is often used in more formal, academic or policy-oriented contexts to describe long-term climatic shifts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The simplified character form 气候变化 is used in Mainland China. The traditional character form 氣候變化 is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Additionally, 氣候變遷 is the standard terminology used in Taiwan for the phenomenon of climate change.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, both 變化 and 變遷 function as nouns, but they can also function as verbs meaning 'to change' or 'to undergo change'.
How do you pronounce it?
qìhòu biànhuà
Did you know?
- The character 變 (biàn), found in both versions of the phrase, is the same character used in the word for 'magic' or 'transformation', implying a profound or fundamental alteration.
- The word 氣 (qì) in 氣候 refers to 'air' or 'gas', but its philosophical roots involve the fundamental energy or 'vital breath' that flows through the universe.
- The character 候 in 氣候 also means 'to wait' or 'to observe'. This suggests a linguistic root based on observing the signs of the seasons to determine the weather.
Examples in context
- 全球变暖是气候变化的重要方面。Global warming is a significant aspect of climate change.
- 气候变化的后果深远，影响我们每个人。The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and affect us all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “climate change” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
