气象 (qì xiàng) literally combines 气 (qì, 'air' or 'vital energy') and 象 (xiàng, 'phenomenon' or 'appearance'), together meaning 'weather' — the atmospheric conditions at a given time and place. It refers to observable elements like temperature, humidity, wind, cloud cover, and precipitation. In scientific and formal contexts, it often appears in terms like 气象预报 (weather forecast) or 气象台 (meteorological station).

Beyond its literal meteorological sense, 气象 can also mean 'atmosphere' in a figurative way — describing the general mood or ambiance of a place or situation, as in 这个城市的气象很现代 (The city’s atmosphere is very modern). However, this usage is less common than the weather meaning and tends to appear in descriptive or literary writing. Unlike the English word 'atmosphere', which has strong psychological connotations, 气象 in this extended sense emphasizes outward, perceptible qualities rather than inner feelings.