空模様|そらもようsoramoyou[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounlook of the sky (esp. of bad weather); weather
   空模様そらもようから判断はんだんすると、雪ゆきが降ふりそうだ。↗

   Judging from the look of the sky, it is going to snow.
2. nouncourse (of events); situation; way the wind is blowingoft. with neg. nuance

• Synonym天気てんきNeutralThe most general word for weather; also means fine weather. 「空模様」 focuses on how the sky looks.
• Synonym天候てんこうWrittenWritten and formal word for weather conditions, as in 「悪天候」.
• Related気象きしょうWrittenFormal term for weather as a meteorological phenomenon, as in 「気象庁」; leans scientific.
• Related空合いそらあいNeutralColloquial word for the look of the sky or the weather, also for how things are turning out; close to 「空模様」 but rarely used.
• Related天気模様てんきもようNeutralRefers to weather conditions, leaning purely descriptive; 「空模様」 usually means judging the weather from how the sky looks.
• Related天色てんしょくWrittenWritten word for the color of the sky or the look of the sky; rare.

For weather in general, say 「天気」; in formal writing, 「天候」. Use 「空模様」 when you judge the weather from the look of the sky, as in 「怪しい空模様」, and figuratively for how a situation is developing; for the science, say 「気象」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 見みて判断はんだんすることができる天候てんこうの具合ぐあい。