hizashi ga tsuyoi node, kokage no benchi ni suwatte yasumimasu.

Because the sunlight is strong, I sit on a bench in the shade and rest.

Breakdown of hizashi ga tsuyoi node, kokage no benchi ni suwatte yasumimasu.

• が: subject particle
• の: possessive case particle
• 休やすむ: to rest
• に: location particle

Questions & Answers about hizashi ga tsuyoi node, kokage no benchi ni suwatte yasumimasu.

What does 日差し mean exactly? Is it the same as 太陽 or 天気?

日差し（ひざし） means sunlight, the sun’s rays, or the strength of the sun shining down.

It is not the same as:

• 太陽（たいよう） = the sun itself
• 天気（てんき） = the weather

So in this sentence, 日差しが強い does not mean the sun is strong in a scientific sense. It means the sunlight is intense / harsh / strong.

This is a very natural Japanese way to talk about hot, bright sunshine.

Why is it 日差しが強い and not 日差しは強い?

Here, が marks 日差し as the thing being described by 強い.

So:

• 日差しが強い = the sunlight is strong

Using が is very natural when you are simply describing a condition or state.

If you said 日差しは強い, it would sound more like you are setting sunlight up as a topic, perhaps in contrast with something else:

• 日差しは強いけど、風は涼しい。 = The sunlight is strong, but the wind is cool.

So in this sentence, が is the normal, straightforward choice.

Why is 強い used with sunlight? Doesn’t 強い usually mean strong?