How to Say “Temperature” in Japanese | The Difference Between “温度 (おんど, ondo)” and “気温 (きおん, kion)

“Temperature” in Japanese

Both vocabulary are often translated as “temperature” in English dictionaries.

Key Word	温度	気温
Hiragana	おんど	きおん
Romaji Reading	ondo	kion
Meaning	temperature	temperature

However, the Japanese meanings are slightly different.

According to some Japanese dictionaries,「温度おんど」means “the degree of hotness or coldness of an object.”

Key Word	温度
Hiragana	おんど
Romaji Reading	ondo
Meaning	the degree of hotness or coldness of an object

It is used when we talk about “room temperature,” “water temperature,” “heat temperature,” and so on.

On the other hand,「気温きおん」means “air temperature.” However, this word doesn’t mean “room temperature.” Therefore, it actually means “outdoor temperature.”

Key Word	気温
Hiragana	きおん
Romaji Reading	kion
Meaning	outdoor temperature

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「温度」and「気温」Example Sentences

「温度」Example Sentences

Sentence	私の部屋の設定温度は、２８度だ。
Romaji Reading	Watashi no heya no settei ondo wa nijūhachi-do da.
Meaning	The preset temperature in my room is 28 degrees. (Plain Form)

Sentence	私の部屋の設定温度は、２８度です。
Romaji Reading	Watashi no heya no settei ondo wa nijūhachi-do desu.
Meaning	The preset temperature in my room is 28 degrees. (Polite Form)

Sentence	オフィスの温度はちょうどいい。
Romaji Reading	Ofisu no ondo wa chōdoī.
Meaning	The office temperature is just right. (Spoken Languagem, Plain Form)

Sentence	オフィスの温度はちょうどいいです。
Romaji Reading	Ofisu no ondo wa chōdoī desu.
Meaning	The office temperature is just right. (Spoken Languagem, Polite Form)

Sentence	温度計が壊れている。
Romaji Reading	Ondokei ga kowarete iru.
Meaning	The thermometer is broken. (Plain Form)

Sentence	温度計が壊れています。
Romaji Reading	Ondokei ga kowarete imasu.
Meaning	The thermometer is broken. (Polite Form)

「気温」Example Sentences

Sentence	今日の東京の気温は、二十度だ。
Romaji Reading	Kyō no Tōkyō no kion wa, nijū-do da.
Meaning	Today’s temperature in Tokyo is 20 degrees Celsius. (Plain Form)

Sentence	今日の東京の気温は、二十度です。
Romaji Reading	Kyō no Tōkyō no kion wa, nijū-do desu.
Meaning	Today’s temperature in Tokyo is 20 degrees Celsius. (Polite Form)

Sentence	今朝の気温は低くて寒かった。
Romaji Reading	Kesa no kion wa hikukute samukatta.
Meaning	The temperature this morning was low and cold. (Plain Form)

Sentence	今朝の気温は低くて寒かったです。
Romaji Reading	Kesa no kion wa hikukute samukatta desu.
Meaning	The temperature this morning was low and cold. (Polite Form)

Sentence	気温が高いと、外での活動はできない。
Romaji Reading	Kion ga takai to, soto de no katsudō wa dekinai.
Meaning	When the temperature is high, we cannot do our activities outside. (Plain Form)

Sentence	気温が高いと、外での活動はできません。
Romaji Reading	Kion ga takai to, soto de no katsudō wa dekimasen.
Meaning	When the temperature is high, we cannot do our activities outside. (Polite Form)

Sentence	ここの気温は大阪より高い。
Romaji Reading	Koko no kion wa Ōsaka yori takai.
Meaning	The temperature here is higher than in Osaka. (Plain Form)

Sentence	ここの気温は大阪より高いです。
Romaji Reading	Koko no kion wa Ōsaka yori takai desu.
Meaning	The temperature here is higher than in Osaka. (Polite Form)