How to Describe Hot, Cold, Warm, and Cool Weather in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to talk about temperature in Mandarin: say hot, cold, warm, and cool, and add degree words like 'a little' or 'very' to describe weather precisely.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin Chinese, talking about temperature is straightforward. The basic pattern is: subject + 很 (hěn) + adjective. For example, 今天很热 (Jīntiān hěn rè) means 'Today is hot.' To say 'It's freezing today,' you can say 今天冷死了 (Jīntiān lěng sǐ le), which literally means 'Today is cold to death.' This lesson focuses on four key temperature adjectives: 热 (rè, hot), 冷 (lěng, cold), 暖和 (nuǎnhuo, warm), and 凉快 (liángkuai, cool). You will learn to combine them with degree words like 很 (hěn, very), 有点 (yǒudiǎn, a little), and 太 (tài, too), and to use them in natural sentences about the weather.
By the end, you can…
- say hot, cold, warm, and cool in Mandarin Chinese.
- use degree words like 很, 有点, and 太 to describe temperature.
- ask and answer simple questions about the weather's temperature.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
今天很热。
Today is very hot.
Jīntiān hěn rè.
Use 很 before 热. In positive sentences, 很 is often used even when 'very' is not emphasized; it links the subject to the adjective.
今天很冷。
Today is very cold.
Jīntiān hěn lěng.
Use 很 before 冷. This is a neutral statement about cold weather.
今天很暖和。
Today is very warm.
Jīntiān hěn nuǎnhuo.
暖和 (nuǎnhuo) means 'warm' in a pleasant way, often used for spring weather or a comfortably heated room.
今天很凉快。
Today is very cool.
Jīntiān hěn liángkuai.
凉快 (liángkuai) means 'cool' in a pleasant way, often used for autumn weather or a refreshing breeze.
今天冷死了。
It's freezing today.
Jīntiān lěng sǐ le.
Literally 'cold to death', this expression means 'freezing'. It is informal and emphatic.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for describing temperature is: Subject + 很 + Adjective. For example, 今天很热 (Today is hot). To soften or intensify, replace 很 with other degree words: 有点 (a little), 太 (too), or 非常 (very). For instance, 今天有点冷 (Today is a little cold) or 今天太热了 (Today is too hot). Note that 太 requires 了 at the end of the sentence. Also, for 'freezing', use the pattern: Adjective + 死了, as in 冷死了 (freezing cold).
When to use it
Use 热 and 冷 for general hot and cold weather. Use 暖和 for pleasantly warm weather, like spring or a cozy room. Use 凉快 for pleasantly cool weather, like a breezy autumn day. When you want to be more precise, add degree words: 有点 (a little) for mild temperatures, 很 (very) for emphasis, and 太 (too) for excess. For example, if it's uncomfortably hot, say 太热了. If it's slightly chilly, say 有点冷. Avoid using 太 with 暖和 or 凉快, as they already imply a comfortable level.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
今天天气怎么样？
How is the weather today?Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?今天很冷，有点风。
Today is very cold, and a bit windy.Jīntiān hěn lěng, yǒudiǎn fēng.是吗？我觉得今天很凉快。
Really? I think today is very cool.Shì ma? Wǒ juéde jīntiān hěn liángkuai.可能你穿得比较多。
Maybe you are wearing more clothes.Kěnéng nǐ chuān de bǐjiào duō.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese, 暖和 and 凉快 are positive words that describe comfortable temperatures, while 热 and 冷 are neutral and can be positive or negative depending on context. When someone says 今天很冷, it is often an invitation to chat about the weather, not necessarily a complaint. Also, using 死了 (sǐ le) as an intensifier is common in informal speech but should be avoided in formal situations.
One thing to watch for
Using 太 with 暖和 or 凉快, which sounds unnatural because these words already imply a comfortable degree.
Try this instead: 暖和 and 凉快 already imply a comfortable degree, so 很 is fine (e.g., 很暖和), but 太 is not used because it suggests excess. For example, say 今天很暖和 (Today is warm) rather than 今天太暖和了, which sounds odd. If you want to say 'too warm', use 太热了 instead.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Today is a little cold' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
今天有点冷。
This uses 有点 (a little) before 冷 (cold). It correctly expresses a mild degree of coldness.
2What is the Mandarin phrase for 'It's freezing today'?
Show a sample answer
今天冷死了。
This uses the pattern Adjective + 死了 to mean 'extremely'. It is an informal but common expression.
3Translate: 'Today is very warm.' Use 暖和.
Show a sample answer
今天很暖和。
This uses 很 before 暖和. It is a natural way to describe pleasantly warm weather.
To describe temperature in Mandarin, use 热, 冷, 暖和, or 凉快 with degree words like 很, 有点, or 太. For 'freezing', say 冷死了. Practice these patterns to talk about the weather naturally.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr