1.
subtropics; subtropical zone; the climatic region between the tropics and temperate zones
A geographic and climatic term for the zones lying between the true tropics and the temperate belts. In Japan, Okinawa and the Amami Islands are often described this way. Common in weather reports, geography class, and travel writing.
沖縄は亜熱帯気候だ。
Okinawa has a subtropical climate.
亜熱帯の森には珍しい植物が多い。
Subtropical forests contain many rare plants.
温暖化の影響で、日本の南部では亜熱帯のような気候が広がりつつある。
Due to global warming, a subtropical-like climate is spreading in southern Japan.
Compound of the prefix 亜 (sub-, quasi-) and 熱帯 (tropics). The word is used both as a noun and in compound attributes (for example, 亜熱帯気候, subtropical climate). It is neutral in register and appears freely in textbooks, news, and casual conversation about weather.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 亜熱帯気候: subtropical climate
- 亜熱帯地域: subtropical region
- 亜熱帯の植物: subtropical plants
- 亜熱帯性の高気圧: subtropical high-pressure system
- 亜熱帯に属する: to belong to the subtropics
RELATED TERMS:
- 熱帯: tropics — warmer than the subtropics
- 温帯: temperate zone — cooler than the subtropics
- 寒帯: frigid zone, polar zone
- 亜寒帯: subarctic zone — the sub- counterpart on the cold side