China spans multiple climate zones — from tropical south to frozen north. This lesson covers weather vocabulary, the four seasons, seasonal traditions, and the Chinese solar calendar that still shapes daily life.
Estimated Time: 45–55 minutes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather |
| 今天天气怎么样？ | jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? | How's the weather today? |
| 晴天 | qíng tiān | sunny day |
| 阴天 | yīn tiān | cloudy/overcast |
| 下雨 | xià yǔ | raining |
| 下雪 | xià xuě | snowing |
| 刮风 | guā fēng | windy |
| 雾 | wù | fog |
| 雷 | léi | thunder |
| 台风 | táifēng | typhoon |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 热 | rè | hot |
| 冷 | lěng | cold |
| 暖和 | nuǎnhuo | warm |
| 凉快 | liángkuai | cool/refreshing |
| 闷热 | mēnrè | muggy/humid |
| 干燥 | gānzào | dry |
| 潮湿 | cháoshī | humid/damp |
| 度 | dù | degrees |
| 零下 | líng xià | below zero |
| 今天三十五度 | jīntiān sānshíwǔ dù | It's 35 degrees today |
China uses 摄氏度 (shèshì dù, Celsius). Quick reference: 0°C = freezing, 20°C = comfortable, 30°C = hot, 35°C+ = very hot. When someone says "今天三十八度," that's 100°F!
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Months | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 春天 | chūntiān | Spring | March–May | Cherry blossoms, Qingming Festival, warm |
| 夏天 | xiàtiān | Summer | June–August | Hot, rainy season (梅雨), Dragon Boat Festival |
| 秋天 | qiūtiān | Autumn | September–November | Best weather, Mid-Autumn Festival, golden leaves |
| 冬天 | dōngtiān | Winter | December–February | Cold, Spring Festival (Chinese New Year!) |
The biggest holiday in China, lasting ~15 days (late January or February). Billions of trips are made during 春运 (chūnyùn, "Spring Migration") as people travel home. Traditions include: red envelopes (红包), dumplings (饺子), firecrackers (鞭炮), family reunion dinner (年夜饭), and couplets on doorways (春联).
Celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (September/October). Families gather to admire the full moon, eat mooncakes (月饼, yuèbǐng), and share stories of Chang'e (嫦娥), the moon goddess.
In early summer (5th day of 5th lunar month). Features dragon boat races (龙舟, lóngzhōu) and eating sticky rice dumplings (粽子, zòngzi). Commemorates the poet Qu Yuan.
In early April. Families visit ancestral graves to clean them and make offerings. Also a time to enjoy spring outings (踏青, tàqīng).
💡 Cultural Insight: China's traditional calendar is lunisolar (农历, nónglì), and many festivals follow it rather than the Western calendar. That's why Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. The 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气, èrshísì jiéqì) — like 立春 (Start of Spring) and 冬至 (Winter Solstice) — are a UNESCO-recognized system that has guided farming for millennia and still influences daily life.
A: 今天天气怎么样？(Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?) — How's the weather today?
B: 很热！三十六度了。(Hěn rè! Sānshíliù dù le.) — Very hot! It's 36 degrees.
A: 明天会下雨吗？(Míngtiān huì xià yǔ ma?) — Will it rain tomorrow?
B: 好像会。你带伞吧。(Hǎoxiàng huì. Nǐ dài sǎn ba.) — I think so. Bring an umbrella.
A: 我最喜欢秋天，不冷不热。(Wǒ zuì xǐhuan qiūtiān, bù lěng bú rè.) — I like autumn best — not cold, not hot.
B: 我也是！秋天的天气最舒服。(Wǒ yě shì! Qiūtiān de tiānqì zuì shūfu.) — Me too! Autumn weather is the most comfortable.
1. How do you say "It's raining" in Chinese?
2. What is 春节 (Chūnjié)?
3. What are 月饼 (yuèbǐng)?
Weather: 天气怎么样？ 晴天 (sunny), 下雨 (rain), 下雪 (snow), 热 (hot), 冷 (cold).
Four seasons: 春天 (spring), 夏天 (summer), 秋天 (autumn), 冬天 (winter).
Major festivals: 春节 (Chinese New Year), 中秋节 (Mid-Autumn), 端午节 (Dragon Boat), 清明节 (Tomb-Sweeping).
Temperature: China uses Celsius (摄氏度). 零下 = below zero.
Culture: The lunisolar calendar and 24 Solar Terms still influence daily life and festivals.