Keywords: qingtian, 晴天, Chinese for sunny day, clear weather in Chinese, how to say sunny in Mandarin, qing tian meaning, what does 晴天 mean, Chinese weather vocabulary, HSK 2 words.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 晴天 (qíngtiān), the most common way to say “sunny day” or “clear day.” This guide breaks down the characters 晴 (clear) and 天 (sky), explains its positive cultural connotations, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover how to use 晴天 (qíngtiān) in daily conversation, understand its metaphorical meaning, and avoid common mistakes made by Mandarin learners when talking about the weather.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): qíngtiān
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: A day with clear, sunny weather.
In a Nutshell:晴天 (qíngtiān) is your go-to Chinese term for a beautiful, bright, and sunny day. It's the opposite of a rainy or cloudy day and carries a universally positive and cheerful feeling. Think of blue skies and sunshine—that's a 晴天. It's used not only in weather forecasts but also in everyday conversations to describe nice weather or even a happy mood.
Character Breakdown
晴 (qíng): This character means “clear” or “fine” specifically in the context of weather. The key is the radical on the left: 日 (rì), which means “sun.” The component on the right, 青 (qīng), means “blue/green” and provides the sound. So, you can remember it as the “sun (日) making the sky blue (青).”
天 (tiān): A very common and fundamental character meaning “sky,” “day,” or “heaven.”
Together, 晴 (qíng) and 天 (tiān) literally combine to mean “clear sky” or “sunny day,” a straightforward and logical construction.
Cultural Context and Significance
While a “sunny day” is a universally positive concept, 晴天 (qíngtiān) holds a special place in Chinese culture and media.
A Symbol of Hope and Happiness: Much like in English, a 晴天 is often used metaphorically to represent happiness, clarity, and hope after a period of difficulty. If someone has been going through a tough time and things are finally looking up, you could say their life is now a 晴天.
In Music and Pop Culture: The term is famously the title of a hugely popular song, “晴天,” by Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou (周杰伦). The song uses the idea of a sunny day to evoke feelings of nostalgic young love. This has cemented the word's romantic and positive connotations for a generation of Mandarin speakers.
Regional Appreciation: In certain parts of China known for being overcast or foggy, like the city of Chongqing (the “Fog City”) or the Sichuan Basin, a 晴天 is a genuinely special and celebrated event. People will pour outside to soak up the rare sunshine, and the mood of the entire city can feel lifted. This contrasts with Western cultures where sunny days might be more taken for granted in certain regions.
Practical Usage in Modern China
晴天 is a high-frequency word used in many common situations. It is neutral in formality and can be used with anyone.
Talking About the Weather: This is its most common use. You'll hear it constantly in daily small talk.
e.g., “今天是个大晴天！” (Jīntiān shì ge dà qíngtiān!) - “It's a big sunny day today!”
Making Plans: It's often used when planning outdoor activities.
e.g., “如果是晴天，我们就去公园。” (Rúguǒ shì qíngtiān, wǒmen jiù qù gōngyuán.) - “If it's a sunny day, we'll go to the park.”
Weather Forecasts: It's a standard term used by meteorologists on TV, radio, and in weather apps.
Metaphorical Expression: Used to describe a person's mood or a situation.
e.g., “听到这个好消息，我的心里一下子就成了晴天。” (Tīngdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi, wǒ de xīnli yíxiàzi jiù chéngle qíngtiān.) - “After hearing the good news, my heart immediately became a sunny day.”
Example Sentences
Example 1:
今天是个晴天，我们出去玩吧！
Pinyin: Jīntiān shì ge qíngtiān, wǒmen chūqù wán ba!
English: Today is a sunny day, let's go out and play!
Analysis: A very common and natural suggestion you might make to a friend. `是个…` (shì ge…) is a typical structure for describing something, in this case, the day.
Example 2:
我最喜欢晴天了。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān qíngtiān le.
English: I like sunny days the most.
Analysis: A simple sentence expressing a preference. The `了 (le)` at the end adds a sense of emphasis or excitement.
Example 3:
天气预报说明天是晴天。
Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān shì qíngtiān.
English: The weather forecast says tomorrow will be a sunny day.
Analysis: This demonstrates how the word is used in the context of official information like a `天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào)`, or weather forecast.
Example 4:
连续下了几天雨，终于等到一个晴天了。
Pinyin: Liánxù xiàle jǐ tiān yǔ, zhōngyú děngdào yí ge qíngtiān le.
English: It rained for several days in a row, we finally got a sunny day.
Analysis: This sentence highlights the feeling of relief and happiness associated with a sunny day after a period of bad weather. `终于 (zhōngyú)` means “finally.”
Example 5:
你喜欢晴天还是雨天？
Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān qíngtiān háishì yǔtiān?
English: Do you like sunny days or rainy days?
Analysis: A classic question using the `还是 (háishì)` structure to offer a choice between two options.
Example 6:
在晴天，这个公园的风景特别美。
Pinyin: Zài qíngtiān, zhège gōngyuán de fēngjǐng tèbié měi.
English: On a sunny day, the scenery in this park is especially beautiful.
Analysis: Shows how to use `在晴天 (zài qíngtiān)` to mean “on a sunny day” to set the scene.
English: Even if it's not a sunny day outside, you should still maintain a good mood.
Analysis: This sentence contrasts the literal weather with one's internal emotional state, a common philosophical sentiment.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake: Assuming 晴天 means “hot”.
A sunny day isn't always warm. A clear winter day can be freezing! 晴天 only describes the sky (clear) and the presence of the sun. The word for “hot” is 热 (rè).
Incorrect: “今天很晴天。” (This sounds like “Today is very sunny day.”)
Correct: “今天是个晴天，但是很冷。” (Jīntiān shì ge qíngtiān, dànshì hěn lěng.) - “Today is a sunny day, but it's very cold.”
Correct: “今天天气很晴朗。” (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn qínglǎng.) - “The weather is very clear and bright today.”
Nuance: 晴天 (qíngtiān) vs. 晴朗 (qínglǎng).
晴天 (qíngtiān) is a noun. It refers to “a sunny day” as a whole thing.
晴朗 (qínglǎng) is an adjective. It means “clear and bright” and describes the state of the weather or the sky.
Example (Noun): 今天是晴天。 (Jīntiān shì qíngtiān.) - “Today is a sunny day.”
Example (Adjective): 今天天气很晴朗。 (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn qínglǎng.) - “The weather today is very clear.”
You can't say “今天很晴天” just like you can't say “Today is very sunny day” in English.
Related Terms and Concepts
天气 (tiānqì) - Weather. The general category that 晴天 belongs to.
雨天 (yǔtiān) - Rainy day. The direct antonym of 晴天.
阴天 (yīntiān) - Overcast/Cloudy day. Another common weather type, the opposite of 晴天.
太阳 (tàiyáng) - Sun. The celestial body that is the cause of a 晴天.
放晴 (fàngqíng) - To clear up (weather). A verb describing the process of the sky becoming clear after being cloudy or rainy.
晴朗 (qínglǎng) - Clear and bright. The adjectival form, used to describe the weather condition rather than the day itself.
多云 (duōyún) - Partly cloudy. A state between 阴天 and 晴天.
风和日丽 (fēng hé rì lì) - A Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “gentle breeze and beautiful sun.” It's a more literary and descriptive way to describe a perfect, pleasant sunny day.