Meanings of 曇
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About 曇
Podcast: 曇
Podcast: 曇
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AI Study Notes for 曇
阴 (yīn) - use 曇 (tán) for 'cloudy' specifically referring to the obscured sunlight, while 阴 (yīn) can imply a more general 'overcast' or 'shadowy' condition.
Be mindful of using 曇 primarily in weather contexts, as it might sound unusual in metaphorical uses. Common collocations include 曇天 (cloudy day) and 曇雲 (overcast clouds). Avoid confusing it with similar words for 'foggy' or 'misty,' which have different characters.
Although not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, 曇 is relevant for learners at the HSK 3-4 level as it relates to weather vocabulary. Focus on using this character alongside others that describe weather conditions, like 晴 (clear) and 雨 (rain).
Learners often confuse 曇 with the character 雲 (yún), which means 'cloud.' For example, saying '今天天氣很雲' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn yún) instead of '今天天氣很曇' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn tán) is incorrect. Remember, 曇 specifically refers to cloudy weather.
Pronunciation of 曇
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Etymology of 曇
The sun 日 hidden behind a cloud 雲
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 曇
- 1The giveawayThe sun 日 hidden behind a cloud 雲
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 曇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 曇
Identify the Components
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How to say cloudy, overcast in Chinese
“cloudy, overcast” in Chinese is曇
The character 曇 (tán) means 'cloudy' or 'overcast.' It is commonly used to describe weather conditions when the sky is covered with clouds, obscuring sunlight. This term is often employed in weather reports and casual conversations about climate.
When to use 曇
Be mindful of using 曇 primarily in weather contexts, as it might sound unusual in metaphorical uses. Common collocations include 曇天 (cloudy day) and 曇雲 (overcast clouds). Avoid confusing it with similar words for 'foggy' or 'misty,' which have different characters.
曇 or something close to it
阴 (yīn) - use 曇 (tán) for 'cloudy' specifically referring to the obscured sunlight, while 阴 (yīn) can imply a more general 'overcast' or 'shadowy' condition.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 曇 with the character 雲 (yún), which means 'cloud.' For example, saying '今天天氣很雲' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn yún) instead of '今天天氣很曇' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn tán) is incorrect. Remember, 曇 specifically refers to cloudy weather.
Write 曇
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Practice writing 曇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 曇
Compound Meaning
What does 昙花一现 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 曇
You can say '今天是曇天' (jīntiān shì tán tiān), meaning 'Today is a cloudy day.'
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