(xià yǔ) - to rain in Mandarin
xiàyǔTraditional: 下雨
Translation
to rain
Word origin
A verb plus object compound of 下 (xià, to come down) and 雨 (yǔ, rain), whose oldest character form draws drops falling from a cloud.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 下 (xià, to fall) + 雨 (yǔ, rain)
Stroke order
下
雨
Examples
，伞。
It has started raining outside, take an umbrella.
？
Will it rain tomorrow?
滑。
The roads are slippery when it rains.
。
It rained all day yesterday.
。
He gets a headache as soon as it rains.
下雨 (xià yǔ) is how Mandarin says it is raining. The same pattern gives 下雪 for snow and 下雾 for fog: whatever comes out of the sky simply comes down.
There is no subject. 下雨了 is a complete sentence, and the English it of it is raining has no equivalent here; putting 它 in front of it is one of the most recognisable learner mistakes there is.
The 了 matters more than it looks. 下雨了 reports a change, meaning it has started raining, while bare 下雨 needs a frame around it such as 明天下雨 or 下雨的时候. And because 下雨 is a verb with its object attached, it comes apart when you need to add anything: 下大雨 for heavy rain, 下了一天的雨 for a full day of it.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
(17)Mandarin Advanced Grammar (C1-C2 / HSK 6+): Chengyu, Classical Remnants, and Register
Concession in Mandarin: 虽然...还是/但是, 不过, and 还是 (Although, Even So, Nonetheless)
Mandarin Conditionals: 如果, 要是, 的话 and the 就 That Finishes the Sentence
Mandarin Verb Conjugation: Why It Doesn't Exist and What Replaces It
Mandarin Conjunctions: 虽然…但是, 因为…所以, 如果…就 and the Paired Structures That Join Clauses
The Double 了 Sentence in Mandarin: 我学了三年中文了 and the Continuing-Action Pattern
The Mandarin Durative 着 (zhe): Marking a State That Continues (门开着, 拿着书, 笑着说)
How to Say Even Though and Even If in Mandarin: 虽然, 即使, 就算 and 尽管
Formal Mandarin Connectives: 然而, 因此, 于是 and 尽管 (The Written Register)
Mandarin Intermediate Grammar (B1-B2 / HSK 4-5): Complements, Conjunctions and the Full 了 System
就 (jiù) vs 才 (cái) in Mandarin: Sooner Than Expected, Later Than Expected
The Two 了 in Mandarin: Completion 了 After the Verb vs Change-of-State 了 at the End
Mandarin Modal Verbs: 会, 想, 要, 应该, 可以, 能 and the Future-Intent Words 打算, 准备
Mandarin Sentence-Final Particles: 吧, 呢, 啊, 嘛, 吗 and the Final 了
The Mandarin 以 (yǐ) Family: 以为, 以及, 以便, 以免, 以来 and 以...为...
又 (yòu) vs 再 (zài) vs 还 (hái) in Mandarin: The Three Ways to Say 'Again'
The Mandarin 于 (yú) Family: 对于, 关于, 由于, 至于, 属于, 位于, 终于
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下雨: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "下雨" (to rain): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 58.