天気
tenkiThe state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, cloudiness, precipitation, wind, and other factors.
今日の天気は晴れです。
Today's weather is clear/sunny.
天気が悪いので、傘を持って行ってください。
The weather is bad, so please take an umbrella.
Used in both formal and casual contexts. Often combined with time expressions (e.g., 今日の天気, 明日の天気).
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Common Weather Expressions
Learn phrases like 晴れ (hare, clear/sunny), 雨 (ame, rain), 雪 (yuki, snow), 風 (kaze, wind), and 曇り (kumo, cloudy) to describe weather conditions.
⚡Gold Rule
天気 vs. 天候
Use 天気 for short-term weather conditions (e.g., 今日の天気). Use 天候 for longer periods or formal contexts (e.g., 今年の天候).
📖Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 天氣 (tʰɨn˥ kʰɨjH), combining 天 (sky, heaven) and 気 (air, atmosphere). The term has been used in Japanese since the Heian period (794–1185).
📝Usage Notes
天気 is the most common term for 'weather' in everyday speech, while 天候 is slightly more formal and refers to longer-term weather patterns. 気象 is used in technical or scientific contexts.