天气很热
tiānqì hěn rè
The English phrase "the weather is hot" is translated into Chinese as 天气很热 (tiānqì hěn rè).
This phrase is used to make a statement describing a high outdoor temperature. The word 热 (rè) can imply that the heat is sultry or sweltering.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 天气 (tiānqì), meaning weather, is composed of 天 (sky) and 气 (air/gas).
Which one should you use?
While 天气很热 literally translates to "weather very hot", it is the standard way to say "the weather is hot" without the word 很 necessarily acting as an emphatic "very".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 天气很热, the word 很 is used as an adverb to link the subject to the adjective. Even if an English speaker does not intend to emphasize the word "very", this linking adverb is required.
How do you pronounce it?
tiānqì hěn rè
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the verb 是 (to be) to say 天气是热. In Chinese, the verb 是 is not used to link a subject to a descriptive adjective. Instead, use 很 as described above.
Did you know?
- While 天气很热 describes the air, Chinese speakers use the word 热 to describe a feeling of being hot, but they use 烫 (tàng) for something that is hot to the touch, like boiling water.
- During periods of 天气很热, it is a common custom in China to drink hot water or tea to regulate internal body temperature.
- The character 热 (rè) is used in the word 热闹 (rènao), which describes a lively or bustling atmosphere rather than temperature.
Examples in context
- 哇！ 今天天气超热的，我们去游泳吧！Wow! Today's weather is super hot. Let's go swimming!
- 今天天气很热。Jīntiān tiānqì hěn rè.Today the weather is hot.
- 这里的天气很热。Zhèlǐ de tiānqì hěn rè.The weather here is hot.
- 夏天天气很热。Xiàtiān tiānqì hěn rè.The weather is hot in summer.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking outside in the afternoon.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，今天天气很热。Xiǎowén, jīntiān tiānqì hěn rè.Xiaowen, the weather is hot today.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，我也觉得很热。Shì de, wǒ yě juéde hěn rè.Yes, I also feel it is very hot.
- 浩然 Haoran我们要不要去喝点冰水？Wǒmen yào bù yào qù hē diǎn bīngshuǐ?Do you want to go drink some ice water?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好主意，我们快走吧。Hǎo zhǔyì, wǒmen kuài zǒu ba.Good idea, let's go quickly.
