tung4 wan4彤雲彤云
Jyutpingtung4 wan4
Yaletùhng wàhn
Definition
Red clouds at sunset; or a gloomy, overcast sky before it snows.
- red clouds at sunset
- literarya dark, overcast sky before a snowfall
writtennatureweather
How it's used
This term is primarily literary and poetic, often appearing in classical descriptions of weather rather than in casual daily conversation. It specifically captures the ominous yet beautiful reddish glow that appears in the sky when heavy snow is imminent. Using it in a modern urban context might sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Examples
Looking at the red clouds outside the window, it feels like it is about to snow.
That patch of red clouds on the horizon signals that a heavy snowfall is coming.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with generic sunset clouds like 晚霞, as 彤雲 carries a specific meteorological connotation related to impending snow that 晚霞 lacks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
