乌云

• Pinyin: wū yún
• Hanzi breakdown: 乌 = simplified from 烏, depicting a crow (eye not visible due to black color); 云 = pictograph of clouds, simplified from 雲

Meaning

Dark clouds; black clouds. Ominous clouds that often signal rain or storms.

Used literally to describe dark, threatening clouds, and metaphorically to represent gloom, trouble, or ominous signs. Common idiom: 乌云密布 (wūyún mìbù, dark clouds gather densely). In literature, often symbolizes impending difficulty or sorrow.

Examples

1. 天空中乌云密布，看来快要下雨了。 Dark clouds are gathering densely in the sky; it looks like it's about to rain.
2. 他心头的乌云终于散去，露出了久违的笑容。 The dark clouds in his heart finally dispersed, and a long-absent smile appeared on his face.
3. 乌云遮住了太阳，整个城市变得阴暗起来。 Dark clouds blocked the sun, and the entire city became gloomy.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, literature, metaphorical

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 乌云来了，快收衣服。(Dark clouds are coming; hurry and bring in the laundry.)
• 他脸上的乌云终于散了。(The gloom on his face finally lifted.)

Don't Say

• 今天有很多乌云，天气很好 — 乌云通常意味着坏天气，不能说'天气很好'

Origin & History

Compound of 乌 (crow, black) + 云 (cloud). Literally 'crow-colored clouds,' referring to their dark appearance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal