Aaj Ka Mausam: How to Talk About Weather in Japanese (N5)

In India we greet friends with "Aaj kitni garmi hai, yaar!" In Japan, people do something very similar. Talking about the weather is one of the most common ways to start a friendly conversation. In this guide you will learn weather in Japanese the easy way: how to ask about today's weather, how to say cold and hot in Japanese, and the short Japanese small talk phrases that help beginners sound natural. These are some of the most useful Japanese words for beginners, and they show up in almost every JLPT N5 vocabulary book.

Tenki Meaning: The Key Word for Weather

天気 (tenki) means "weather". Add the word for "today" and you get the Japanese version of aaj ka mausam:

• 今日の天気 (kyō no tenki): today's weather
• 明日の天気 (ashita no tenki): tomorrow's weather
• 天気予報 (tenki yohō): weather forecast

The particle の (no) works a lot like Hindi ka / ki. Kyō no tenki follows the same order as aaj ka mausam, so many Hindi speakers find this pattern easy to remember.

How to ask about the weather

• 今日の天気はどうですか。(Kyō no tenki wa dō desu ka?): How is the weather today?
• 明日は雨ですか。(Ashita wa ame desu ka?): Will it rain tomorrow?

How to Say Cold in Japanese (and Hot, Warm, Cool)

Here is a small trap for Hindi speakers. In Hindi, thanda can describe both the weather and a cold drink. Japanese uses two different words:

• 寒い (samui): cold (weather, air, how your body feels). Kyō wa samui desu. = It is cold today.
• 冷たい (tsumetai): cold to the touch (water, a drink, ice). Mizu ga tsumetai desu. = The water is cold.

"Hot" works the same way:

• 暑い (atsui): hot weather. Kyō wa atsui desu ne. = It's hot today, isn't it?
• 熱い (atsui): hot to the touch, like tea or a pan. Same sound, different kanji.

Two more words complete the set:

• 暖かい (atatakai): warm (a pleasant spring day)
• 涼しい (suzushii): cool (a nice autumn breeze)
• 蒸し暑い (mushiatsui): hot and humid, perfect for Delhi in August! 😅

Weather Words for JLPT N5

Learn these as a group. They often appear together in textbooks and listening practice:

• 晴れ (hare): sunny, clear
• 曇り (kumori): cloudy
• 雨 (ame): rain
• 雪 (yuki): snow
• 風 (kaze): wind
• 傘 (kasa): umbrella
• 春 (haru), 夏 (natsu), 秋 (aki), 冬 (fuyu): spring, summer, autumn, winter

Useful sentence patterns

• 雨が降っています。(Ame ga futte imasu.): It is raining.
• 昨日は寒かったです。(Kinō wa samukatta desu.): It was cold yesterday.
• 今日は寒くないです。(Kyō wa samuku nai desu.): It is not cold today.
• 明日は晴れでしょう。(Ashita wa hare deshō.): It will probably be sunny tomorrow.

Notice how samui changes to samukatta (past) and samuku nai (not cold). This is the い-adjective pattern, a core N5 grammar point. Practise it with weather words and you learn grammar and vocabulary together.

Why Weather Is the Go-To Small Talk Opener in Japan

Japan has four clear seasons, plus a rainy season called 梅雨 (tsuyu) in early summer. The weather changes noticeably through the year, so it is something everyone shares. It is also a safe, neutral topic. You can talk about it with a neighbour, a shopkeeper, a teacher or a new colleague without getting too personal.

The magic word is ね (ne) at the end, a bit like "hai na?" in Hindi. It invites the other person to agree:

1. A: おはようございます。今日は寒いですね。(Ohayō gozaimasu. Kyō wa samui desu ne.): Good morning. Cold today, isn't it?
2. B: そうですね。(Sō desu ne.): Yes, it really is.

That's it: a complete, polite and natural exchange. いい天気ですね (ii tenki desu ne), "Nice weather, isn't it?", is another easy opener you can use almost anywhere.

Practical Tips to Remember Weather Words

• Check the sky every morning and say one sentence in Japanese: Kyō wa hare desu.
• Link words to Indian seasons: natsu = May-June loo, ame = monsoon, samui = Delhi in January.
• Learn pairs: samui/atsui, atatakai/suzushii, samui/tsumetai.
• Speak, don't just read. Weather questions are easy to practise aloud with a partner or teacher.

FAQ: Weather in Japanese

What is the tenki meaning in Japanese?

Tenki (天気) means weather. Kyō no tenki means today's weather, just like aaj ka mausam.

How do you say cold in Japanese?

Use samui for cold weather and tsumetai for something cold to touch, like water or ice.

Is weather vocabulary part of JLPT N5?

Basic weather words and い-adjectives like samui and atsui are part of most N5 study materials. The JLPT does not publish an official word list, so learn them through a good N5 course and practice tests. For exam dates and registration, check the official site, jlpt.jp.

Can I learn Japanese in Hindi?

Yes. Many Indian learners find that comparing Japanese with Hindi (word order, particles like no and ne) makes it easier to understand. A teacher who explains in simple English and Hindi can help a lot.

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