气候 (qì hòu) — climate (weather conditions of a region); (figurative) atmosphere, environment (in social or political contexts)

Definition

气候 (qìhòu) refers to long-term weather patterns of a region — not today's 天气 ('weather'). In figurative use it means the prevailing 'climate' (political, economic), similar to 环境 but for abstract conditions.

noun
climate (weather conditions of a region)(figurative) atmosphereenvironment (in social or political contexts)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 气候。
    Zhè lǐ de qì hòu hěn shì hé zhǒng píng guǒ.
    The climate here is very suitable for growing apples.
  • 气候。
    Shì jiè shàng yǒu hěn duō zhǒng qì hòu.
    There are many kinds of climates in the world.
  • 气候。
    Mù qián de jīng jì qì hòu bú tài lè guān.
    The current economic climate is not very optimistic.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

气qìair/weather
候hòuseason

气 (air/weather) and 候 (season) stand side by side, giving the general weather pattern of a region.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
矦
矦hóu候hòu
Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.

Open 候 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Climate & Seasons

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