気候
kikō[kʲi̥ko̞ː]
The English word "climate" can be translated into Japanese as 気候 (kikō). If unsure, use 気候. Wiktionary also lists 風土 (fūdo).
Meaning: long-term atmospheric conditions (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 気候 | kikō | [kʲi̥ko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 風土 | fūdo | [ɸɯ̟ːdo̞] (narrow) |
Both 気候 and 風土 are used to describe atmospheric conditions, but they have different nuances. 気候 refers specifically to long-term atmospheric patterns and meteorological climate.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 気候 is composed of 気 (ki), meaning 'air' or 'spirit' and 候 (kō), meaning 'season' or 'condition'.
Which one should you use?
There are distinct differences between these terms depending on your focus. 気候 refers to long-term atmospheric patterns and the meteorological climate, whereas 風土 refers to the climate in the sense of the natural environment, soil and the local character of a region. Additionally, while 気候 refers to long-term climate, the word 天気 is used for short-term weather conditions.
How do you pronounce it?
kikō
Did you know?
- Because 風土 includes the nuance of soil and terrain, it is used in Japanese to describe the 'character' of a person shaped by their birthplace.
- Japan's traditional calendar divides the year into 二十四節気, or 24 solar terms, which provide a much more granular way of describing the 'climate' than the four standard seasons.
- The character 候 in 気候 is also used in the word for 'waiting' or 'watching for', as ancient people had to carefully watch the signs of nature to predict the season.
Examples in context
- カナダの気候は寒い。Canada has a cold climate.Tatoeba #226299 by arnab, translation #378287 by CM
- 気候変動は事実です。Climate change is real.Tatoeba #7290196 by yuwash, translation #2654611 by Hybrid
- この国は気候が温暖だ。This country has a mild climate.Tatoeba #221925 by bunbuku, translation #59251 by CK
- 正式な気候データを見て、調査結果を分析しました。We analyzed the survey results by examining the official climate data.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their travel plans during a lunch break.
- 大翔 Hirotoあそこはどんな気候なの？Asoko wa donna kikou nano?What is the climate like there?
- 陽葵 Himariとても乾燥した気候だよ。Totemo kansou shita kikou da yo.It's a very dry climate.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんは乾燥した場所は苦手？Himari-san wa kansou shita basho wa nigate?Himari, do you dislike dry places?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、少し苦手かな。Un, sukoshi nigate kana.Yeah, I'm not very good with them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “climate” translations and entries 気候, 風土, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
