taam4曇昙
Jyutpingtaam4
Yaletàahm
Definition
Overcast; covered with dark clouds.
colloquialweather
How it's used
Used primarily to describe a sky heavy with dark, low-hanging clouds that signal impending rain. While it functions as an adjective, it carries a specific sense of gloominess or heaviness in the atmosphere compared to the more neutral term 多雲. It is rarely used in formal writing and is mostly restricted to spoken descriptions of weather conditions.
Examples
The sky is very overcast today, it looks like it's about to rain.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 陰, which describes a generally overcast or gloomy day. 曇 specifically focuses on the visual presence of thick, dark clouds gathering in the sky.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
