Classical or literary noun for season or weather. In modern Japanese, it is mostly encountered in fixed expressions, haiku, or formal writing, not in everyday conversation.
The character 候 is sometimes used in seasonal greetings.
In this season of fresh greenery, I hope you are doing well.
俳句では「候」が季語として詠まれる。
In haiku, 候 is used as a seasonal word.
天候 is the common modern word for 'weather conditions', while 候 by itself is a literary term rarely used outside set phrases.
侯 (marquis, feudal lord) and 候 (sign, season, or classical auxiliary verb) look almost identical and share the reading こう, but are unrelated in meaning.
candidate; contender; prospective choice; option · candidacy; nomination
climate
candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (for an event)
weather; weather conditions
sign; indication; symptom; omen
bad weather; severe weather; poor weather conditions
scout; patrol; spy
symptom; clinical sign
all-weather; weatherproof
The kanji 候 originally meant 'to wait upon' or 'to observe', and its use for 'season' or 'weather' likely derives from observing seasonal changes. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.
season; time of year
meteorological observation
waiting upon; attending; serving
migratory bird; bird of passage
season; climate
paleoclimate
weather resistance; weatherability
officer cadet (JSDF)
72 microseasons
the coldest season; midwinter
fringe candidate; minor candidate with little chance of winning
weathering steel; atmospheric-corrosion resistant steel