Meaning and Usage
"下雨" literally means "to rain" or "rain falls." It is a common verb phrase used to describe the weather condition when rain is falling from the sky. It is often used in everyday conversation to talk about weather forecasts, current weather, or plans affected by rain.
Common Collocations and Patterns
- 下雨天 (xià yǔ tiān): rainy day(s), used to describe days when it rains.
- 下雨的时候 (xià yǔ de shíhòu): when it rains, used to indicate the time during rain.
- 如果下雨 (rúguǒ xià yǔ): if it rains, used in conditional sentences.
- 突然下雨 (tūrán xià yǔ): suddenly rain, used to describe unexpected rain.
Usage Notes
"下雨" is typically used in the present or future tense with auxiliary verbs like 会 (will) or 可能 (might) to express possibility. It can also be used in past tense with 了 to indicate that it rained. This phrase is neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Avoid confusing "下雨" with "下雪" (to snow) or other weather verbs. Also, "下雨" focuses on the action of rain falling, not just the presence of rain in the air.