下雪 is the standard way to say 'it is snowing' in Chinese.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used to describe the weather phenomenon of snowing.
- Commonly used in daily conversations regarding winter weather.
- Can be modified by adjectives like heavy or light.
Overview
- 1概览：下雪（xià xuě）是中文里最基础的天气动词之一。由动词“下”（降落）和名词“雪”（固态降水）组成。它在描述自然现象时非常直接，是学习者接触天气类词汇时的必修课。2) 用法模式：下雪通常作为一个不及物动词使用。最常见的句式是“今天下雪了”或“外面正在下雪”。由于雪花从天而降，因此主语通常是“天”或者直接省略主语，直接陈述现象。3) 常见语境：在北方地区，冬季下雪是常态，人们会用“下大雪”或“下小雪”来区分降雪强度。在南方，下雪往往被视为难得的美景，常伴随惊喜的语气。4) 近义词辨析：与“降雪”相比，“下雪”更口语化，适合日常交流；“降雪”则多见于天气预报或书面新闻报道中，语气更严谨、客观。
Examples
外面下雪了。
everydayIt's snowing outside.
据气象台预报，今晚将有降雪。
formalAccording to the weather station, there will be snow tonight.
哇，下大雪了！我们去堆雪人吧。
informalWow, it's snowing heavily! Let's go build a snowman.
该地区的年降雪量逐年减少。
academicThe annual snowfall in this region is decreasing year by year.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
瑞雪兆丰年
A timely snow promises a good harvest.
雪花飘飘
Snowflakes are drifting.
大雪纷飞
Heavy snow is falling thick and fast.
Often Confused With
降雪 is a formal term used in meteorological reports or academic writing. 下雪 is the colloquial term for daily speech.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
下雪 is primarily used in informal or neutral contexts. It is a verb-object construction where '下' is the verb and '雪' is the object. In formal writing, especially weather reports, '降雪' is preferred.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often forget to add '了' when describing a change of state. Another mistake is trying to add a subject like '它' (it), which is unnecessary in Chinese. Simply saying '下雪了' is the most natural way to express the situation.
Tips
Use '了' for completed actions
When describing that it has started to snow, add '了' at the end of the sentence. This indicates a change of state.
Don't confuse with noun usage
Remember that '下雪' is a verb phrase. You cannot say 'The snow is snowing' as a direct translation; use '下雪了' instead.
Snow in Chinese culture
In many parts of China, a heavy snowfall in winter is considered a lucky omen for a good harvest next year, often called '瑞雪'.
Word Origin
The character '雪' depicts rain (雨) and a broom-like element representing the sweeping nature of snow. '下' indicates the downward movement from the sky.
Cultural Context
Snow is highly symbolic in Chinese literature, often representing purity, loneliness, or the harshness of winter. It is common to see poems describing the beauty of falling snow.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character '雪' as a roof (雨) covering the ground, and '下' as the snow falling down. Remember that it's an action, just like '下雨' (raining).
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“下雪”是动词，表示正在发生降雪这个动作或现象。而“雪”是名词，指代雪花本身。
可以，这是一种很自然的表达方式。在中文里，我们常把“天”作为自然现象的主语。
你可以说“下大雪”或者“雪下得很大”。这是描述降雪强度的标准用法。
中文没有动词时态变化，通过在句末加“了”来表示动作的发生或状态的改变，例如“昨天晚上下雪了”。
Test Yourself
冬天的时候，北京经常会___。
北京冬季寒冷，常有降雪现象。
外面天气怎么样？
这是对询问天气状况最直接的回答。
了 / 下雪 / 昨天 / 晚上
时间状语通常放在动词前面。
Score: /3
Summary
下雪 is the standard way to say 'it is snowing' in Chinese.
- Used to describe the weather phenomenon of snowing.
- Commonly used in daily conversations regarding winter weather.
- Can be modified by adjectives like heavy or light.
Use '了' for completed actions
When describing that it has started to snow, add '了' at the end of the sentence. This indicates a change of state.
Don't confuse with noun usage
Remember that '下雪' is a verb phrase. You cannot say 'The snow is snowing' as a direct translation; use '下雪了' instead.
Snow in Chinese culture
In many parts of China, a heavy snowfall in winter is considered a lucky omen for a good harvest next year, often called '瑞雪'.
Examples
4 of 4外面下雪了。
It's snowing outside.
据气象台预报，今晚将有降雪。
According to the weather station, there will be snow tonight.
哇，下大雪了！我们去堆雪人吧。
Wow, it's snowing heavily! Let's go build a snowman.
该地区的年降雪量逐年减少。
The annual snowfall in this region is decreasing year by year.
