阴天

• Pinyin: yīn tiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 阴 = 阝 (hill) + 月 (moon), meaning 'shaded/overcast'; 天 = 一 (top line) + 大 (big), meaning 'sky/day'

Meaning

Cloudy day; overcast day. A day when the sky is covered by clouds and the sun is not visible.

Specifically describes an overcast day without rain, though rain may follow. Used in daily weather talk and forecasts. Different from 下雨天 (rainy day) or 多云 (partly cloudy). Chinese weather reports commonly distinguish between 晴 (clear), 多云 (cloudy), 阴 (overcast), and various rain categories.

Examples

1. 今天是阴天，有点冷。 It's an overcast day today — a bit cold.
2. 阴天的时候我不想出门。 I don't feel like going out when it's cloudy.
3. 虽然是阴天，但是没有下雨。 Although it's overcast, it's not raining.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 连着好几天都是阴天。(It's been overcast for several days in a row.)
• 阴天适合在家看书。(Overcast days are good for reading at home.)

Don't Say

• 今天阴天下大雨。(Don't describe heavy rain as 阴天 — 阴天 means overcast without rain. Say 下雨天 or 雨天 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 阴 (overcast/cloudy) and 天 (day/sky), literally 'overcast sky/day.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal