天気が暑い
tenki ga atsui
The English phrase "the weather is hot" is translated into Japanese as 天気が暑い (tenki ga atsui).
This phrase is used to describe a high outdoor temperature. You can also use the related phrase 暑いですね to say "It's hot, isn't it?", which is a common way to seek agreement or start a conversation about the weather in Japan.
Which one should you use?
The form 暑い refers specifically to hot weather or ambient air temperature. This is distinct from the word 熱い, which is used for objects that are hot to the touch, such as tea or a stove.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase can be adjusted for different social situations. Adding です to the end, as in 暑いです, makes the expression polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors. In contrast, 暑いよ is an informal way to say "It's hot."
How do you pronounce it?
tenki ga atsui
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 暑い to describe the temperature of objects like hot coffee. However, 暑い is strictly reserved for ambient air temperature or the weather.
Did you know?
- To cope with the heat described by 暑い, Japanese people use 打ち水, the custom of sprinkling water on the ground in front of homes to lower the ambient temperature.
- While 暑い describes the air, the word 暑がり describes a person who is sensitive to heat and feels hot easily. This turns the adjective for weather into a personality trait.
- In extremely high heat, Japanese people often use the word 蒸し暑い (mushi-atsui), which translates to 'steamy hot' to describe the oppressive humidity.
Examples in context
- 暑くて汗が出てきましたIt's so hot, I'm starting to sweat.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are walking to school together.
- 蓮 Renもう夏みたいに天気が暑いね。Mō natsu mitai ni tenki ga atsui ne.The weather is hot, almost like it's already summer.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に。汗をかいたよ。Hontō ni. ase o kaita yo.Really. I'm already sweating.
- 蓮 Renどこかで飲み物を買おうか。Dokoka de nomimono o kaō ka.Shall we buy a drink somewhere?
- 陽葵 Himariいい考えだね、蓮君。Ii kangae da ne, Ren-kun.That's a good idea, Ren.
