ai3曀
Jyutpingai3
Yaleai
Definition
Overcast, stormy, or misty weather; obscure or dim.
writtenweathernature
How it's used
Literary and formal in nature, this term is rarely encountered in modern spoken Cantonese. It describes a specific type of dim, overcast, or wind-swept sky that feels heavy or oppressive. Use it only when you want to evoke a poetic or descriptive atmosphere rather than in casual conversation.
Examples
The weather is so gloomy today, it looks like it's about to rain.
Related words
Common phrases
the sky is overcast
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a person's mood or personality, as it is strictly reserved for weather or atmospheric conditions. Learners often confuse it with common colloquial terms for cloudy weather like 陰天.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
