yīntiān: 阴天 - Overcast, Cloudy Day

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Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 阴天 (yīntiān), meaning “overcast” or “cloudy day.” This guide breaks down the characters 阴 (yīn) and 天 (tiān), explores its cultural connection to Yin-Yang philosophy and mood, and teaches you how to use it in everyday conversation. Discover the crucial difference between 阴天 (yīntiān) and 多云 (duōyún) to describe the weather in China like a native speaker.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yīntiān

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: An overcast day; a day when the sky is covered by a uniform layer of clouds.

In a Nutshell: 阴天 (yīntiān) is your go-to word for a grey, sunless day. It doesn't just mean there are clouds in the sky; it describes a sky that is completely covered by a blanket of grey clouds, with no sun visible. Think of a classic gloomy, overcast day—that's a perfect 阴天 (yīntiān).

阴 (yīn): This character is the “yin” from Yin-Yang (阴阳). It originally represented the shady side of a hill. It's associated with concepts like darkness, coolness, femininity, and the moon.

天 (tiān): This character means “sky” or “day.” The character itself can be seen as a picture of a person with a large head, signifying the vastness of the sky above.

Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 阴天 (yīntiān) literally means “shady sky” or “dark day.” This perfectly captures the essence of an overcast day where the sun is blocked, casting everything in a muted, shady light.

Yin-Yang and Weather: The term 阴天 (yīntiān) is a perfect everyday example of Yin-Yang philosophy embedded in the Chinese language. An overcast day is a manifestation of 阴 (yīn) energy—it's cool, dark, passive, and subdued. This stands in direct contrast to a sunny day, 晴天 (qíngtiān), which is full of bright, warm, and active 阳 (yáng) energy.

Connection to Mood: Much like in Western cultures, an 阴天 (yīntiān) is often associated with a somber, gloomy, or melancholic mood. You will frequently hear people say that the grey weather makes them feel tired or a little sad. This theme is common in Chinese poetry, music, and literature, where an overcast sky sets a scene for introspection or sorrow.

Cultural Comparison: While Americans might say they “feel under the weather” on a gloomy day, the Chinese connection is more philosophically direct. The weather's 阴 (yīn) energy is seen as directly influencing a person's own energy balance. However, in the blistering heat of a Chinese summer, an 阴天 (yīntiān) can also be seen as a welcome, cooling relief from the intense sun, giving it a more positive connotation in that specific context.

Weather Forecasts: 阴天 (yīntiān) is a standard meteorological term used in every weather forecast, on TV, in apps, and online.

Daily Conversation: It's one of the most common ways to describe the weather. People use it to make plans, comment on the day, or start small talk. For example: “明天是阴天，我们别去爬山了。” (It's going to be overcast tomorrow, let's not go hiking.)

Describing Mood (Figurative): While less common, the feeling of an 阴天 (yīntiān) can be used figuratively. You might describe a tense office atmosphere or a person's gloomy face as having an “overcast” quality. The adjective 阴沉 (yīnchén) is more common for this, but the root concept is the same.

Common Mistake: A beginner might see some clouds and say, “今天是阴天.” If there are patches of blue sky and defined clouds, a native speaker would correct them and say, “不，是多云 (Bù, shì duōyún).” Use 阴天 only when the sky is completely covered in a uniform grey layer.

晴天 (qíngtiān): The direct antonym of 阴天. It means a clear, sunny day.

多云 (duōyún): A related but distinct weather condition meaning partly or mostly cloudy.

下雨 (xià yǔ): To rain. An 阴天 often, but not always, leads to rain.

乌云 (wūyún): Dark clouds, specifically the type you see before a storm. An 阴天 is often caused by layers of these.

天气 (tiānqì): The general word for “weather.”

天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào): Weather forecast. This is where you will frequently hear the term 阴天.

阴沉 (yīnchén): An adjective meaning gloomy, somber, or leaden. It's used to describe the atmosphere of a very dark 阴天 or a person's somber expression.

刮风 (guā fēng): To be windy. Often occurs on an 阴天.

打雷 (dǎ léi): To thunder. A possible event during a dark 阴天.