Describe the weather with a small set of adjectives, then change them into past and negative forms. Keep atmospheric temperature separate from the temperature of a drink.
Match the adjective to what you describe
暑い describes hot weather, while 熱い commonly describes something hot to touch or drink. Both are read あつい, but the written distinction helps identify the meaning. 寒い describes cold weather; 冷たい is useful for cold water or another cold thing.
暖かい describes comfortably warm weather or surroundings, and 涼しい describes pleasantly cool conditions. 温かい is commonly used for something such as soup. Kanji choices can vary with nuance; the practice prompts state weather or an object explicitly.
Describe a change over time
昨日は寒かったです gives a past weather report. 今日は寒くないです denies that it is cold today. Use an adjective ending that matches your intended time and polarity. The sample statements are language examples, not a weather forecast.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
暑い | あつい — hot weather |
寒い | さむい — cold weather |
暖かい | あたたかい — warm weather |
涼しい | すずしい — pleasantly cool |
熱い | あつい — hot to touch / drink |
冷たい | つめたい — cold to touch / drink |
雨 | あめ — rain |
雪 | ゆき — snow |
Try six questions
Try these self-check questions from memory, then compare your answers with the explanations. For automatic checking and saved progress, open the related practice after this article.
Hot weather: write 暑い or its kana reading.
Cold weather: dictionary adjective.
Cold water: 冷たい or its kana reading.
寒い → plain past affirmative
暑い → plain negative
Pleasantly cool weather: dictionary adjective from the table.
Answer key and explanations
暑い / あつい — 暑い describes atmospheric heat.
寒い / さむい — 寒い is the weather adjective.
冷たい / つめたい — An object such as water uses 冷たい.
寒かった / さむかった — The past ending is かった.
暑くない / あつくない — The negative ending is くない.
涼しい / すずしい — 涼しい describes pleasant coolness.
Keep learning
Related lessons
Try what you have just read
Recognise the pattern, write an answer from memory, then use it in a short reading. Your existing progress carries over.
Open the three-step lessonSources
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