气 began as a simple picture of vapor or breath rising upward.
The old shape looked like thin steam curling into the air. It first meant air, breath, or gas. Later it stretched to weather, energy, and mood.
气 vapor, breath
气
Common Usage & Traps
- 天气 — weather
- 不客气 — you're welcome
- 气 — air, gas, breath
-
今天气很好今天天气很好气 alone means air, gas, or breath. Weather needs the full word 天气.
Why is 'weather' 天气 and not just 气?
气 alone means air, gas, or breath. Weather needs the full word 天气.
气 by itself points to air, gas, or breath, not weather. To talk about weather, you need the full word 天气 (tiānqì). Saying 今天气很好 sounds like 'today air is good' to a native ear. Always use 天气 when you mean weather, rain, sun, or temperature.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Weather is nice | 天气很好 | 气很好 |
| How's the weather? | 天气怎么样？ | 气怎么样？ |
| Today's weather | 今天的天气 | 今天的气 |
Why does 不客气 mean 'you're welcome' if it literally says 'not polite'?
不客气 literally says 'don't be polite'. That is how you reply to 谢谢.
When someone says 谢谢, the standard reply in everyday Mandarin is 不客气. It comes from the word 客气 (kèqi), which means polite or formal. Literally, 不客气 says 'don't be polite' or 'no need to stand on ceremony'. In English, the same social move is 'you're welcome'. That is why the phrase looks negative but sounds friendly and normal.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Reply to 谢谢 | 不客气 | 不礼貌 |
| You're too polite | 你太客气了 | 你太不客气了 |
Appears in Stories 10 stories
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
-
现在是北京的七月， 天气 很热。
-
“现在是下午， 天气 太热“。
-
“我喜欢热 天气 。
-
妈妈也喜欢热 天气 。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
-
小李想，要是 天气 还这么热，还不下雨，整个森林都要烧没了。
-
因为风把烟吹到城里， 空气 变得非常差，很多人开始咳嗽，小李也是其中一个。
-
新闻里还说，最近这些年，美国西部每年都出现的森林大火是 气候变化 的结果。
Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.
-
不用客气 ！
-
不客气 ！
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
-
老先生很高兴，对大中说：“ 不客气 ，多吃一点儿。”
-
一天晚上，外边下大雨， 天气 非常冷。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
-
路上他接了个电话， 语气 一下子变了，变得有点儿凶。
-
挂了电话他把手机扔在座椅上，长长吐了 一口气 。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
-
我们下飞机的时候是白天，但是 天气 有一点儿冷。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
-
有个叫谢安的人，很有才华，也很有 名气 。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
-
白天明觉得，今天 天气 真好。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
-
这个下午， 天气 很好。
Everyday greetings are a gateway to natural Chinese. Practice time-based hellos like “早上好” and “晚安,” learn to address teachers with the respectful “您,” and see how families skip formalities to speak warmly at home.
-
家人、朋友关系好，“谢谢”、“您”、“请”太 客气 ，在家说话 不客气 ，可以不说“您和请”。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!