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March 24, 2026
云(雲)yún(yun2)
The character 云 (yún) primarily means 'cloud' in modern Mandarin, referring to the visible mass of condensed water vapor in the sky. Additionally, in classical Chinese, it can mean 'to say' or 'to speak.' It is commonly used in everyday language and can be found in various contexts, including weather discussions and poetic expressions.
Strokes4Radical二Frequency#5043DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese poetry, clouds (云) are often symbolic of fleeting beauty and the transient nature of life, reflecting traditional values of appreciating nature. They also play a significant role in classical literature, representing freedom and longing.
Memory tip
Imagine a fluffy cloud (云) floating in the sky, resembling the puffy shape of the character itself. The pronunciation 'yún' sounds like 'yawn,' which you might do when looking up at a lazy cloud on a calm day.
Meanings of 云
yún(yun2)
1(classical) to say
2cloud
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 云
云Simplified
雲Traditional
4Strokes
二Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#5043Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 云
Podcast: 云
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AI study notes for 云
Quick Contrast
云 (yún, cloud) vs 雲 (yún, traditional form) — choose 云 for simplified Chinese contexts.
Usage Notes
A common mistake with 云 is confusing it with 语 (yǔ), which means 'language' or 'speech.' While 云 can refer to speaking in classical contexts, it is rarely used that way in modern language. Be mindful of the context; it's often used informally when talking about the weather or in artistic expressions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 云 connects well with other vocabulary about nature and weather, such as 雨 (yǔ, rain) and 天 (tiān, sky). Focus on recognizing its use in phrases and its role in idiomatic expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 云 with the character for 'rain' (雨, yǔ), leading to incorrect phrases like '云天' instead of '雨天' (yǔtiān, rainy day). Remember that 云 specifically denotes clouds, not rain.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 云
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 云 (yún) primarily means 'cloud' in modern Mandarin, referring to the visible mass of condensed water vapor in the sky. Additionally, in classical Chinese, it can mean 'to say' or 'to speak.' It is commonly used in everyday language and can be found in various contexts, including weather discussions and poetic expressions.
When to use 云
A common mistake with 云 is confusing it with 语 (yǔ), which means 'language' or 'speech.' While 云 can refer to speaking in classical contexts, it is rarely used that way in modern language. Be mindful of the context; it's often used informally when talking about the weather or in artistic expressions.
云 or something close to it
云 (yún, cloud) vs 雲 (yún, traditional form) — choose 云 for simplified Chinese contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 云 with the character for 'rain' (雨, yǔ), leading to incorrect phrases like '云天' instead of '雨天' (yǔtiān, rainy day). Remember that 云 specifically denotes clouds, not rain.
Write 云
云
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Grammar patterns of 云
云 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Word Family of 云
Compounds33
会huìcan
动dòngto use
运yùnto move
尝chángto taste
魂húnold variant of 魂[hún]
层cénglayer
坛tánaltar
酝yùnto brew
芸yìcommon rue; diverse, varied
耘yúnto weed
昙táncloudy, overcast
纭yúnconfused; numerous
藝yìart; talent, ability; craft
伝yún
侌yīnold variant of 陰|阴[yin1]
叆ài
叇dài
枟yùn
沄yún
転zhuǎn
兿yì
凨fēng
呍hōng
囩yún
夽yǔn
妘yún
忶hún
抎yǔn
眃yún
秐yún
紜yúnconfused; numerous
耺yún
雲yúncloud; to say, to speak
Words containing this character20
云yúncloud雲
风云fēngyúnweather風雲
云南yúnnánYunnan province in southwest China, bordering on Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, abbr. 滇[diān] or 雲|云, capital Kunming 昆明雲南
多云duōyúncloudy (meteorology)多雲
云霄yúnxiāoYunxiao county in Zhangzhou 漳州[Zhāngzhōu], Fujian雲霄
乌云wūyúnblack cloud烏雲
白云báiyúnBaiyun district of Guiyang city 貴陽市|贵阳市[Guìyángshì], Guizhou白雲
浮云fúyúnfleeting浮雲
云层yúncéngthe clouds雲層
烟消云散yānxiāoyúnsànto disappear煙消雲散
云集yúnjíto converge雲集
云彩yúncai(coll.) cloud雲彩
云南省yúnnánshěngYunnan Province in southwest China, bordering on Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, abbr. 滇[Diān] or 雲|云[Yún], capital Kunming 昆明[Kūnmíng]雲南省
星云xīngyúnnebula星雲
云梯yúntīescalade雲梯
不知所云bùzhīsuǒyúnto be unintelligible
云雀yúnquè(bird species of China) Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)雲雀
云端yúnduānfig. high in the clouds雲端
翻云覆雨fānyúnfùyǔto make love翻雲覆雨
过眼云烟guòyǎnyúnyānephemeral (idiom)過眼雲煙
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 云
What does 会 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 云
Yes, 云 is used in several Chinese idioms, such as '云开见月' (yún kāi jiàn yuè), which means 'the clouds disperse and the moon appears', symbolizing clarity after confusion. This reflects the idea of overcoming difficulties.
In Chinese culture, clouds (云) symbolize good fortune and auspiciousness. They are often depicted in art and literature, representing the transient nature of life and the beauty of the sky.
You can use 云 in a sentence to refer to the weather or to describe something fluffy. For example, '今天的天上有很多云' (There are many clouds in the sky today) or '云彩像棉花一样' (The clouds are like cotton).
云 (yún) primarily means 'cloud' in modern Chinese. It can also refer to the abbreviation for Yunnan Province (云南省) and has classical meanings related to 'to say'. Additionally, 云 is a surname in Chinese.
Phrases like '云彩' (yúncǎi, cloud color) and '白云' (báiyún, white cloud) are common. Additionally, '云游' (yúnyóu, to roam like a cloud) expresses a carefree lifestyle.
Yes, '浮云' (fúyún, floating clouds) is used to describe something that is temporary or insubstantial, often in a philosophical context.
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