to rain
下雨
Common Usage & Traps
- 下雨了 — It's raining now
- 下大雨 — to rain heavily
- 下雨天 — rainy day
- 今天下雨吗 — Is it going to rain today?
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上雨下雨Chinese uses 下 for falling weather. 上雨 is not a word.
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大下雨下大雨大 describes 雨, so it goes before 雨, not before 下.
Why does Chinese say 下雨 instead of 上雨?
Chinese rain falls down, so it is 下雨; 上雨 is not a word.
Chinese marks rain and snow with 下 because they fall down from the sky. English also says rain falls, so 上雨 would mean rain rises. The direction is baked into the weather phrase, and the story uses that joke to make it stick. “下雨不“上雨”， 下雪没“上雪”。” (It rains but you don't 'up-rain', it snows but there's no 'up-snow'.) ── [《电脑没脑子》](/read/computers-have-no-brains#s5)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | 下雨, 下雪 | 上雨, 上雪 |
| English logic | rain falls down | rain goes up |
| Real phrase | 外面下雨了 | 外面“上雨”了 |
Can you say 大下雨 for heavy rain?
No. Heavy rain is 下大雨, not 大下雨.
Put 大 right before 雨 because 大 describes the rain itself. You say 下大雨 for heavy rain, and 雨很大 also works. Do not bolt 大 onto the front of 下: 大下雨 sounds broken.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy rain | 下大雨 | 大下雨 |
| What is big | 大 before 雨 | 大 before 下 |
| Alternative wording | 雨很大 | 大下雨 |
Do you need 了 to say it's raining now?
Yes. 下雨了 means it has started raining or it's raining now.
Use 下雨了 when rain has started or is happening now. The [了](/grammar/le1-completed-aspect-62) marks a new situation, not a past tense button. Without 了, 下雨 is a general weather word or a forecast phrase. For habits, drop 了: 这里经常下雨.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Current rain | 下雨了 | 下雨 |
| New situation | 外面下雨了 | 外面下雨 |
| Habit | 这里经常下雨 | 这里经常下雨了 |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
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这个晚上， 下雨 了。
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今天，你那里 下雨 了吗？
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.
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下雨 了。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
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下雨 了，大家都没有回去。
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
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下雨 不“上雨”，下雪没“上雪”。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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