冬天 Dōngtiān: Talking About Winter in Chinese

In this post we’ll talk about winter in Chinese: 冬天  dōngtiān. First we’ll learn how to talk about cold winter weather in Chinese. Then we’ll move on to vocabulary and expressions that you can use to say whether you love or hate the winter. Next we’ll focus on winter clothes in Chinese. Finally we’ll wrap up with some expressions to talk about cozy winter evenings at home.

Talking about Winter Weather in Chinese

Let’s start with some basic expressions that will help you talk about cold winter weather in Chinese.

• 外面很冷！
  Wàimiàn hěn lěng!
  It’s Cold Outside!
• 是冷的。
  Shì lěng de.
  It’s cold.
• 它冻结！
  Jié bing le!
  It’s freezing!

• 下雪了。
  Xià xuě le.
  It’s snowing.
• 正在下雪。
  Zhèngzài xià xuě.
  It’s sleeting.
• 又冷风又大。
  Yòu lěng fēng yòu dà.
  It’s cold and windy.
• 雪很美。
  Xuě hěn měi.
  The snow is beautiful.
• 本周我们将迎来一场暴风雪。
  Běnzhōu wǒmen jiāng yíng lái yīchǎng bàofēngxuě.
  We’re going to have a blizzard this week.
• 湖面结冰了。
  Húmiàn jié bing le.
  The lake is frozen.
• 雪在融化。
  Xuě zài rónghuà.
  The snow is melting.
• 我在发抖！
  Wǒ zài fādǒu!
  I’m shivering!

我爱冬天。 Wǒ ài Dōngtiān. I Love the Winter.

Not everyone hates the snow. If you’re a kid, or a kid at heart, you may enjoy some fun winter activities.

• 我喜欢雪。
  Wǒ xǐhuān xuě.
  I love the snow.
• 我们来堆雪人吧。
  Wǒmen lái duī xuěrén ba.
  Let’s make a snowman.
• 这个周末我要去滑雪。
  Zhège zhōumò wǒ yào qù huáxuě.
  I’m going skiing this weekend.
• 我们去玩雪橇吧。
  Wǒmen qù wán xuěqiāo ba.
  Let’s go sledding.
• 我们去滑冰吧。
  Wǒmen qù huábīng ba.
  Let’s go ice skating.
• 我喜欢滑雪。
  Wǒ xǐhuān huáxuě.
  I like snowboarding.
• 来一场打雪仗吧！
  Lái yì chǎng dǎxuězhàng ba!
  Let’s have a snowball fight!
• 孩子们正在建造一座雪堡。
  Háizimen zhèngzài jiànzào yí zuò xuě bǎo.
  The kids are building a snow fort.

我讨厌冬天！ Wǒ tǎoyàn Dōngtiān! I Hate the Winter!

Of course, winter isn’t all fun and games.

• 我讨厌下雪。
  Wǒ tǎoyàn xià xuě.
  I hate the snow.
• 我得铲车道。
  Wǒ dé chǎn chēdào.
  I have to shovel the driveway.
• 道路结冰危险。
  Dàolù jié bīng wéixiǎn.
  The roads are icy and dangerous.
• 我在人行道上滑倒了。
  Wǒ zài rénxíngdào shàng huá dǎo le.
  I slipped on the sidewalk.
• 我不喜欢寒冷的天气！
  Wǒ bù xǐhuān hánlěng de tiānqì!
  I don’t like cold weather!
• 我想念太阳。
  Wǒ xiǎngniàn tàiyáng.
  I miss the sun.
• 冬天的天气令人沮丧。
  Dōngtiān de tiānqì lìng rén jǔsàng.
  Winter weather is depressing.

Winter Clothes in Chinese

Now let’s talk about 冬天的衣服 Dōngtiān de yīfú Winter Clothes in Chinese. If you have to go outside, you need to dress appropriately. You’ll probably wear: 一件冬衣 yí jiàn dōngyī (a winter coat), 一顶帽子 yì dǐng màozi  (a hat), 一条围巾 yì tiáo wéijīn (a scarf), 手套 shǒutào (gloves), 连指手套 lián zhǐ shǒutào (mittens), 靴子 xuēzi (boots).

• 我今天需要一顶帽子和手套。
  Wǒ jīntiān xūyào yī dǐng màozi hé shǒutào.
  I need a hat and gloves today.
• 这件外套不够重！
  Zhè jiàn wàitào bùgòu zhòng!
  This coat isn’t heavy enough!
• 你有防水靴吗？
  Nǐ yǒu fángshuǐ xuē ma?
  Do you have waterproof boots?
• 我穿着毛衣和外套。
  Wǒ chuān zhe máoyī hé wàitào.
  I’m wearing a sweater and a coat.

舒适安静的夜晚 shūshì ānjìng de yèwǎn Cozy, Quiet Evenings

But inside, you can still feel 温暖舒适 wēnnuǎn shūshì (warm and cozy). You can sit next to 一场火 yì chǎng huǒ (a fire), and maybe enjoy 一杯茶 yì bēi chá (a cup of tea) or better yet, 一杯热巧克力 yì bēi rè qiǎokèlì (a cup of hot chocolate). Just get 毯子 tǎnzi (a blanket), maybe 一本好书  yì běn hǎo shū (a good book), and you’re ready to make the most out of 寒冷的白天和漫长的夜晚 hánlěng de báitiān hé màncháng de yèwǎn (the cold days and long nights). It’s only a few more months until the spring!

• 屋子里又温暖又舒适。
  Wūzi lǐ yòu wēnnuǎn yòu shūshì.
  It’s warm and cozy in the house.
• 我们在壁炉里生火吧。
  Wǒmen zài bìlú lǐ shēnghuǒ ba.
  Let’s make a fire in the fireplace.
• 我们在爐火前吃热巧克力吧。
  Wǒmen zài lúhuǒ qián chī rè qiǎokèlì ba.
  Let’s have hot chocolate in front of the fire.
• 我在火旁取暖。
  Wǒ zài huǒ páng qǔnuǎn.
  I’m warming up next to the fire.
• 你有毯子吗？
  Nǐ yǒu tǎnzi ma?
  Do you have a blanket?
• 冬天我早点睡觉。
  Dōngtiān wǒ zǎodiǎn shuìjiào.
  I go to bed early in the winter.

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We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about winter in Chinese. Now you know a lot of Chinese vocabulary for winter, and you can talk about winter weather in Chinese and winter clothes in Chinese. If you want to learn more, check out our other posts on Chinese language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Chinese lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work – we can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

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