noun HSK 2
Traditional 雲
cloud · to say (classical)
Meaning
云 is the everyday word for cloud in Mandarin. It refers to the visible masses of water vapor floating in the sky. In classical Chinese, 云 also served as a verb meaning 'to say,' though this usage is now archaic and only appears in literary contexts or set phrases.
Usage
Used in both literal contexts (weather, sky) and metaphorical expressions. Commonly appears in compound words related to clouds, weather, and modern technology (like 云端 'cloud computing'). Native speakers use it frequently when describing weather or discussing cloud-related phenomena.
Examples
- 01天上飘着几朵白云。.There are a few white clouds floating in the sky.
- 02乌云密布，快要下雨了。, .Dark clouds are gathering; it's about to rain.
Measure words
- 朵一朵云
- 片一片云
Common collocations
- 白云white cloud
- 乌云dark cloud
- 云层cloud layer
- 云端cloud (computing); high in the clouds
Origin
The traditional form 雲 is a pictograph showing swirling clouds. The simplified form 云 actually borrows an ancient character that originally meant 'to say,' which was phonetically similar.