気温
kion[kʲiõ̞ɴ]
The Japanese word for temperature is 気温 (kion).
気温 is used to describe the measure of heat or cold in the atmosphere. You can use the adverb とても (very) before a temperature expression to add emphasis.
Meaning: a measure of cold or heat (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 気, meaning air or atmosphere and 温, meaning warmth or temperature.
Which one should you use?
気温 is used specifically for atmospheric or air temperature. For the temperature of objects, liquids or general physical states, use 温度.
How do you pronounce it?
kion
Did you know?
- When checking the weather, Japanese speakers often refer to 体感温度, which translates to 'body-felt temperature' to account for wind chill and humidity.
- The term 気温 emerged in the mid-19th century through the text 舎密開宗, marking a period when Western scientific concepts were being translated into Japanese.
- The character 気 in 気温 can mean 'air', but it also means 'spirit' or 'energy', which is why it appears in words for 'feeling' and 'mood'.
Examples in context
- 気温が急に下がった。The temperature has suddenly dropped.This sentence shows how to describe a sudden drop in 気温.Tatoeba #183230 by bunbuku, translation #20352 by CK
- 今の気温は何度ですか？What's the temperature now?This sentence is useful for asking for the current 気温.Tatoeba #8599996 by small_snow, translation #687480 by lukaszpp
- 気温が上昇しています。The temperature is rising.This sentence demonstrates how to say that the 気温 is rising.Tatoeba #9529095 by small_snow, translation #1662854 by Amastan
- きょうの気温は30度です。Today's temperature is 30 degrees.
- 湿度と温度に注意してください。Please pay attention to the humidity and temperature.
- 「とても寒いです！」It's very cold!
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are checking the weather before going out.
- 蓮 Ren今日の気温はどれくらいかな？Kyou no kion wa dore kurai kana?I wonder what the temperature is today?
- 結衣 Yui予想では、とても高いみたいだよ。Yosou de wa, totemo takai mitai da yo.According to the forecast, it seems quite high.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、薄着で行こうか。Jaa, usukin de ikou ka.Then, shall we go in light clothes?
- 結衣 Yuiそうだね、そうしよう！Sou da ne, sou shiyou!Right, let's do that!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 気温, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 気温, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
