笼罩

• Pinyin: lǒng zhào
• Hanzi breakdown: 笼 = 竹 + 龙 (enveloping); 罩 = 罒 + 卓 (to cover/shade)

Meaning

To envelop; to shroud; to cover over completely. Describes something that spreads over an area or situation, often creating a heavy or oppressive atmosphere.

Used both literally (mist or smoke covering a landscape) and figuratively (fear, gloom, or uncertainty hanging over people or events). Conveys a sense of pervasive, inescapable influence.

Examples

1. 晨雾笼罩着整座山谷，使远处的树林若隐若现。 Morning fog blanketed the entire valley, making the distant woods appear and disappear.
2. 战争的阴影笼罩着这片土地，百姓人心惶惶，夜不能寐。 The shadow of war hangs over this land; people are anxious and can’t sleep at night.
3. 一种莫名的忧郁笼罩着他，即使在阳光明媚的午后也无法消散。 An inexplicable gloom enveloped him, and it wouldn’t lift even on a bright, sunny afternoon.

Usage Guide

Context: literary, news, description

Tone: evocative

Do Say

• 浓雾笼罩了整个港口，所有航班和航运被迫暂停。(Dense fog enveloped the entire port, forcing all flights and shipping to suspend operations.)
• 经济衰退的阴云笼罩着整个行业，许多企业不得不压缩开支以求生存。(The shadow of economic recession shrouded the entire industry, forcing many companies to cut costs in order to survive.)

Don't Say

• 用笼罩形容小范围的覆盖 — 笼罩 implies total, pervasive envelopment over a broad area or situation; for small-scale covering use 覆盖 or 遮住 instead

Origin & History

笼 (cage/envelop) + 罩 (cover/shade) — together conveying a complete enveloping or covering

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal