jíduān tiānqì: 极端天气 - Extreme Weather

• Keywords: jíduān tiānqì, 极端天气, extreme weather in China, Chinese climate change, what is extreme weather in Chinese, typhoon China, heatwave China, natural disasters in China, Chinese weather vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 极端天气 (jíduān tiānqì), which directly translates to “extreme weather.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in modern China, and practical usage in news and conversation. Discover how to talk about events like typhoons, heatwaves, and floods, and understand its connection to broader topics like climate change (气候变化) in a Chinese context. This is a crucial term for anyone following current events in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jíduān tiānqì
• Part of Speech: Noun Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Components HSK 1-5)
• Concise Definition: Severe or unusual weather events that are at the extremes of the historical distribution for a given area.
• In a Nutshell: `极端天气` is a formal and direct term for what we call “extreme weather” in English. It's not a word you'd use for a simple rainy day; instead, it describes major, often dangerous, weather events like severe typhoons, record-breaking heatwaves, or devastating floods. You'll encounter it most frequently in news reports, government warnings, and discussions about climate change.

• 极 (jí): This character means “extreme,” “utmost,” or “pole” (as in the North/South Pole). It signifies the furthest possible point on a spectrum.
• 端 (duān): This means “end,” “extremity,” or “point.” It reinforces the idea of being at the very edge or end of something.
• 天 (tiān): Meaning “sky,” “day,” or “heaven.” In this context, it refers to the sky and atmospheric conditions.
• 气 (qì): Meaning “air,” “gas,” or “weather.” Combined with 天, it forms 天气 (tiānqì), the standard word for “weather.”

When combined, `极端 (jíduān)` becomes a powerful adjective for “extreme” or “radical.” `天气 (tiānqì)` is simply “weather.” The term `极端天气` is therefore a very literal and modern construction meaning “extreme-end weather.”

While China has a long history of documenting natural disasters in its annals, the term `极端天气` is a modern one that has gained prominence with the global conversation on climate change. Its usage reflects a scientific, data-driven approach to weather phenomena that were once described in more poetic or fatalistic terms. A key difference compared to Western discourse is the emphasis on collective and state-led response. When `极端天气` is forecast, Chinese media and government agencies immediately focus on public safety alerts, mobilization of resources, and official directives. The narrative is often one of national unity and resilience in the face of a natural threat. This contrasts with some Western reporting that might focus more on individual stories of loss or political debate surrounding climate policy. The term in China is thus less a subject of debate and more a call to action and preparation, highlighting a societal value of collective responsibility and trust in central authority during a crisis.

`极端天气` is primarily used in formal contexts.

• News and Official Announcements: This is where you will hear the term most. News reports on CCTV, articles in People's Daily, and warnings from the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) will use `极端天气` to describe significant weather events and their impact. It lends an air of scientific authority and seriousness.
• Formal Discussions: In academic, business, or policy discussions about climate change, agriculture, or insurance, `极端天气` is the standard, precise term.
• Everyday Conversation: In casual chat, it's far more common to name the specific event rather than use this general, formal phrase. For example, instead of saying “We're having some `极端天气`,” a person would say “台风要来了！” (A typhoon is coming!) or “今天热死了！” (It's lethally hot today!). Using `极端天气` in a casual context for a heavy but normal rainstorm would sound overly dramatic and unnatural.

• Example 1:
  • 气候变化导致极端天气事件越来越频繁。
  • Pinyin: Qìhòu biànhuà dǎozhì jíduān tiānqì shìjiàn yuèláiyuè pínfán.
  • English: Climate change is causing extreme weather events to become more and more frequent.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal sentence you would find in an article or documentary, linking climate change directly to extreme weather.
• Example 2:
  • 政府已经发布了应对极端天气的紧急预警。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ yǐjīng fābùle yìngduì jíduān tiānqì de jǐnjí yùjǐng.
  • English: The government has already issued an emergency warning to cope with the extreme weather.
  • Analysis: This highlights the term's use in official contexts related to public safety. `预警 (yùjǐng)` means “early warning.”
• Example 3:
  • 今年夏天，很多国家都遭受了极端天气的影响。
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián xiàtiān, hěnduō guójiā dōu zāoshòule jíduān tiānqì de yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: This summer, many countries have suffered the effects of extreme weather.
  • Analysis: A common way to describe the impact of events like heatwaves or floods on a national or global scale. `遭受 (zāoshòu)` means “to suffer” or “to be subjected to.”
• Example 4:
  • 科学家们正在研究极端天气和全球变暖之间的联系。
  • Pinyin: Kēxuéjiāmen zhèngzài yánjiū jíduān tiānqì hé quánqiú biànnuǎn zhījiān de liánxì.
  • English: Scientists are researching the connection between extreme weather and global warming.
  • Analysis: This sentence places the term in a scientific and academic context.
• Example 5:
  • 这次洪水是由连续几天的极端天气造成的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì hóngshuǐ shì yóu liánxù jǐ tiān de jíduān tiānqì zàochéng de.
  • English: This flood was caused by several consecutive days of extreme weather.
  • Analysis: This example shows how `极端天气` can be used as a descriptor for the cause of a specific natural disaster (`洪水` - flood).
• Example 6:
  • 面对极端天气，我们需要提高城市的应急能力。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì jíduān tiānqì, wǒmen xūyào tígāo chéngshì de yìngjí nénglì.
  • English: In the face of extreme weather, we need to improve cities' emergency response capabilities.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence from a policy or urban planning discussion.
• Example 7:
  • 农民最担心极端天气会影响今年的收成。
  • Pinyin: Nóngmín zuì dānxīn jíduān tiānqì huì yǐngxiǎng jīnnián de shōucheng.
  • English: Farmers are most worried that extreme weather will affect this year's harvest.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's relevance to specific sectors like agriculture. `收成 (shōucheng)` is “harvest.”
• Example 8:
  • 天气预报说，未来一周可能会出现极端天气，请大家做好准备。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō, wèilái yīzhōu kěnéng huì chūxiàn jíduān tiānqì, qǐng dàjiā zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi.
  • English: The weather forecast says extreme weather might occur in the coming week, everyone please be prepared.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of how the term is used in public service announcements.
• Example 9:
  • 这种极端天气在我们地区是前所未有的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng jíduān tiānqì zài wǒmen dìqū shì qiánsuǒwèiyǒu de.
  • English: This kind of extreme weather is unprecedented in our region.
  • Analysis: Emphasizes the unusual and record-breaking nature of an event. `前所未有 (qiánsuǒwèiyǒu)` is a great idiom for “unprecedented.”
• Example 10:
  • 如何减少极端天气带来的经济损失是一个全球性问题。
  • Pinyin: Rúhé jiǎnshǎo jíduān tiānqì dàilái de jīngjì sǔnshī shì yíge quánqiú xìng wèntí.
  • English: How to reduce the economic losses brought by extreme weather is a global issue.
  • Analysis: Connects the term to its economic consequences, common in financial news or reports.

• Overuse in Casual Situations: A common mistake for learners is to use `极端天气` for any bad weather. If it's raining heavily, you should say `雨下得真大 (yǔ xià de zhēn dà)`. Saying `这是极端天气 (zhè shì jíduān tiānqì)` would sound overly formal and dramatic, as if a national emergency were declared for a simple rainstorm. Reserve `极端天气` for events that would genuinely make the news.
• Confusing 天气 (tiānqì) and 气候 (qìhòu): These two are easily confused.
  • `天气 (tiānqì)` is weather: the short-term atmospheric conditions of a specific place (e.g., “Today's weather is sunny”).
  • `气候 (qìhòu)` is climate: the long-term average weather patterns of a region (e.g., “Beijing has a continental climate”).
  • `极端天气` is a weather event. It is a short-term occurrence. Climate change (`气候变化`) is the long-term trend that makes these events more frequent.
  • Correct usage: `气候变化 (qìhòu biànhuà)` 导致了更多的 `极端天气 (jíduān tiānqì)`。 (Climate change leads to more extreme weather.)

• 气候变化 (qìhòu biànhuà) - Climate change. The long-term trend often cited as the cause of more frequent `极端天气`.
• 自然灾害 (zìrán zāihài) - Natural disaster. The broader category of events that `极端天气` can cause, such as floods and landslides.
• 台风 (táifēng) - Typhoon. A specific and very common type of `极端天气` in coastal China.
• 洪水 (hóngshuǐ) - Flood. A direct consequence of extreme rainfall.
• 干旱 (gānhàn) - Drought. The opposite of floods, but also a form of `极端天气`.
• 热浪 (rèlàng) - Heatwave. A period of excessively hot weather.
• 暴雨 (bàoyǔ) - Torrential rain / Rainstorm. A specific type of event that falls under the umbrella of `极端天气`.
• 天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào) - Weather forecast. The tool used to predict and warn the public about impending `极端天气`.
• 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn) - Global warming. A more specific term for the cause of climate change.
• 预警 (yùjǐng) - Early warning. Often used in phrases like `红色预警` (red alert) in connection with `极端天气`.