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曇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
曇táncloudy, overcastx, 16 strokes, radical 日
tán(tan2) T2
  1. 1cloudy, overcast
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March 24, 2026

曇tán(tan2)

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.

Strokes16Radical日
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, weather plays a significant role in daily life, influencing activities and festivals. The character 曇 reflects the importance of understanding weather patterns, especially in agricultural practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'tan' (tán) person sitting under a cloudy sky, feeling a bit gloomy. The character 曇 combines the radical for 'sun' (日) with a component that resembles a cloud, emphasizing the idea of the sun being hidden.

Meanings of 曇

tán(tan2)
1cloudy, overcast
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 曇

曇Simplified
16Strokes
日Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 曇

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Podcast: 曇

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AI Study Notes for 曇

Quick Contrast

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.

Usage Notes

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.

HSK Study Tips

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).

Common Mistakes

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.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 曇

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Etymology of 曇

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The sun 日 hidden behind a cloud 雲

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 曇?

Decomposition of 曇

IDS Structure⿱日雲
曇Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
雲yun2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 曇?

How to say cloudy, overcast in Chinese

“cloudy, overcast” in Chinese is曇tán

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

曇

Practice writing 曇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 曇

Words Containing This Character3
昙花一现short-lived曇花一現
昙tándark clouds曇
昙花Dutchman's pipe cactus, aka Queen of the Night cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)曇花
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 曇

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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