云
yún
The English phrase "clouds" is translated into Chinese as 云 (yún).
The word 云 refers to the visible masses of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere.
Which one should you use?
While 云 is the general term, other forms specify appearance or structure: 乌云 refers specifically to dark, heavy clouds that often signal an approaching storm, while 云朵 is a more descriptive and colloquial way to refer to clouds, often implying they are cute, fluffy or small. For more formal or technical descriptions, 云团 is used to emphasize a cluster or group of clouds and 云层 is used to refer to layers of clouds.
How does it change in a sentence?
云 is a noun that does not change its form for plurality. The context or a quantifier determines if it is singular or plural.
How do you pronounce it?
yún
Did you know?
- In ancient Chinese, 云 was not just a noun for 'clouds' but also functioned as a verb meaning 'to speak' or 'to say'. This usage still appears in classical literature and formal idioms today.
- Chinese has a specific term 祥云 for 'auspicious clouds'. These stylized, colorful swirls are common motifs in traditional art and architecture to signal good luck and divine presence.
- The word 云 is often used in the term 云端, which literally means 'in the clouds' but is the standard way to refer to 'the cloud' in computing and online storage.
Examples in context
- 天空乌云密布。The sky is full of dark clouds.This sentence shows how to describe a sky filled with 云.Tatoeba #2052704 by sadhen, translation #462922 by lukaszpp
- 云朵大，雨点小。The clouds are large, and the raindrops are small.This sentence uses 云 to compare the size of clouds to raindrops.Tatoeba #2065311 by sadhen, translation #7790236 by sharris123
- 乌云正掠过这座城市。Black clouds were passing above the city.This sentence uses 云 to describe dark clouds passing over a city.Tatoeba #8463531 by gumblex, translation #405833 by Dorenda
- 今天的云朵形状很奇特。(Jīntiān de yún duǒ xíngzhuàng hěn qítè.)The clouds today have a peculiar shape.
- 看那朵白云，好像一只羊。(Kàn nà duǒ bái yún, hǎoxiàng yī zhī yáng.)Look at that white cloud, it looks like a sheep.
- 今天天空中的云彩非常美丽。(Jīntiān tiānkōng zhōng de yún cǎi fēicháng měilì.)The clouds in the sky today are incredibly beautiful.
- 乌云密布，预示着暴风雨即将来临。(Wū yún mì bù, yùshìzhe bàofēngyǔ jíjiāng láilín.)The dark clouds gather, heralding the arrival of a storm.
- 他决定绘画一片云海，表达他内心的宁静。(Tā juédìng huìhuà yī piàn yún hǎi, biǎodá tā nèixīn de níngjìng.)He decided to paint a sea of clouds to express his inner tranquility.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at the sky together.
- 浩然 Haoran你看，那些云像棉花糖。Nǐ kàn, nàxiē yún xiàng miánhuā táng.Look, those clouds look like cotton candy.
- 梓涵 Zihan真的，形状好可爱。Zhēnde, xíngzhuàng hǎo kě'ài.Really, the shapes are so cute.
- 浩然 Haoran不过那边有几朵黑云。Búguò nàbiān yǒu jǐ duǒ hēi yún.But there are a few dark clouds over there.
- 梓涵 Zihan看来快要下雨了。Kànlái kuàiyào xiàyǔ le.It looks like it's about to rain.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
