tin1 jam1天陰天阴
Jyutpingtin1 jam1
Yaletīn yām
Definition
Overcast, cloudy, or gloomy weather.
colloquialweather
How it's used
Adding the reduplicated form 天陰陰 makes the description feel more natural and descriptive of a gloomy, overcast sky. It is common to use this phrase when predicting rain, as the weather in Hong Kong often shifts quickly from overcast to a downpour.
Examples
It is cloudy today, it looks like it is going to rain soon.
Since it is cloudy, remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 陰天, which is a noun referring to a cloudy day. While they are related, 天陰 is typically used as an adjective to describe the current state of the sky.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
