雨が降っています
ame ga futte imasu
In Japanese, "it is raining" is expressed as 雨が降っています (ame ga futte imasu).
This phrase is used to state that water is currently falling from the sky. Related vocabulary includes ame (rain), kumo (cloud) and kasa (umbrella).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ame (rain), ga (the subject marker) and futte imasu (the continuous form of the verb "to fall").
Which one should you use?
While 雨が降っています describes the ongoing action of raining right now, the phrase 雨が降る is used to describe a general fact or a future event, such as "it will rain".
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form 雨が降っています is used in standard social interactions. The informal version 雨が降っている is used with friends or family. To ask for agreement, such as "It is raining, isn't it?", you can add ね to the end of the phrase, resulting in 雨が降っていますね (formal) or 雨が降ってるね (informal).
How do you pronounce it?
ame ga futte imasu
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'it is raining cats and dogs', Japanese does not use animals, but rather might describe the rain as being as loud as 'drums' or 'heavy' using different onomatopoeia.
- Japanese has a vast array of onomatopoeic words to describe how rain falls, such as shito-shito for a gentle drizzle or para-para for a light, scattered rain, which can replace the standard verb to change the mood.
- There is a cultural concept called 雨天決行 'uten kekkō', which is a formal announcement that an event will proceed even if it is raining.
Examples in context
- 雨が降っています。ame ga futte imasu.It is raining.
- 外は今、雨が降っています。soto wa ima, ame ga futte imasu.It is raining outside right now.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking out the window.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、見て。雨が降っていますよ。Yui, mite. Ame ga futte imasu yo.Yui, look. It is raining.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ。傘を持っていますか。hontou da. kasa o motte imasu ka.You're right. Do you have an umbrella?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、持っています。hai, motte imasu.Yes, I have one.
- 結衣 Yuiよかった。一緒に帰りましょう。yokatta. issho ni kaerimashou.That's good. Let's go home together.
