duōyún: 多云 - Partly Cloudy, Cloudy

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 多云 (duō yún), a fundamental Chinese term for “partly cloudy” or “cloudy” weather. This comprehensive guide breaks down the simple characters 多 (duō) and 云 (yún), explains its constant use in daily Chinese weather forecasts and small talk, and clarifies the crucial difference between 多云 and the similar term 阴天 (yīn tiān). Learn to talk about the weather like a native speaker with practical examples and cultural context.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): duō yún
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: The weather condition of having many separate clouds in the sky; partly cloudy.
• In a Nutshell: 多云 (duō yún) is the standard Chinese word for a day that isn't completely sunny but also isn't fully overcast. It literally means “many clouds,” painting a clear picture of a sky with patches of blue and visible, distinct clouds. It's a neutral, descriptive term you'll hear every day in weather reports and casual conversation about the day's conditions.

• 多 (duō): This character means “many,” “much,” or “a lot.” It's an ideogram composed of two 夕 (xī) components stacked on top of each other. The repetition implies abundance.
• 云 (yún): This character means “cloud.” It's a simple pictogram that was originally drawn to resemble a swirling cloud in the sky.

When you combine them, 多 (duō) + 云 (yún) creates the very logical and literal meaning of “many clouds,” which is exactly what a partly cloudy day looks like.

While 多云 is a straightforward weather term, its usage is rooted in the universal importance of weather in daily life and conversation. In Chinese culture, as in many others, commenting on the weather is a common and polite way to start a conversation with anyone, from a stranger to a colleague. A key cultural nuance lies in the perception of a 多云 day. In Western cultures, a “sunny day” is often seen as the ideal. In many parts of China, especially during the hot and humid summer months, a 多云 day is often considered more pleasant and comfortable than a scorching hot 晴天 (qíng tiān), or sunny day. The clouds provide a welcome relief from the direct sun, making it a perfect day for outdoor activities. This preference can be loosely connected to the traditional value of moderation and avoiding extremes—a comfortable, cloudy day is more balanced than a day of intense, blazing heat.

多云 is an extremely high-frequency word used in several common situations.

• Weather Forecasts: This is its primary and most formal context. You will see and hear it constantly on TV, in news articles, and on weather apps (天气APP, tiānqì APP). It's a standard meteorological term.
• Daily Small Talk: It's essential for everyday conversation. When someone asks “今天天气怎么样？” (Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? - How's the weather today?), a very common answer is simply “多云” or “今天多云”.
• Planning Activities: People use it to decide on their plans for the day. A 多云 forecast is often seen as ideal for things like hiking, strolling through a park, or shopping, as you won't be exposed to harsh sun or rain.

The term is neutral in connotation. It's a factual description of the sky.

• Example 1:
  • 天气预报说明天多云。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān duō yún.
  • English: The weather forecast says it will be partly cloudy tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A classic example of how you'd hear 多云 used in a formal context like a weather report (天气预报).
• Example 2:
  • A: 今天天气怎么样？ B: 多云，不冷不热，很舒服。
  • Pinyin: A: Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? B: Duō yún, bù lěng bù rè, hěn shūfu.
  • English: A: How's the weather today? B: It's cloudy, not cold and not hot, very comfortable.
  • Analysis: This shows 多云 used in everyday small talk. The second part of the response highlights the positive perception of a comfortable, cloudy day.
• Example 3:
  • 昨天是多云天气，很适合出去玩。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān shì duō yún tiānqì, hěn shìhé chūqù wán.
  • English: Yesterday was partly cloudy, very suitable for going out to play.
  • Analysis: Here, 多云 is used with “天气” (tiānqì) to form the noun phrase “cloudy weather.”
• Example 4:
  • 我希望周末不要下雨，多云就可以。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng zhōumò bùyào xià yǔ, duō yún jiù kěyǐ.
  • English: I hope it doesn't rain this weekend; partly cloudy would be fine.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 多云 as an acceptable, even desirable, alternative to rain when making plans.
• Example 5:
  • 上海今天上午晴，下午转多云。
  • Pinyin: Shànghǎi jīntiān shàngwǔ qíng, xiàwǔ zhuǎn duō yún.
  • English: In Shanghai, it's sunny this morning, turning to partly cloudy in the afternoon.
  • Analysis: The structure “A 转 (zhuǎn) B” means “changing from A to B” and is extremely common in weather forecasts.
• Example 6:
  • 虽然天空中多云，但紫外线还是很强。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tiānkōng zhōng duō yún, dàn zǐwàixiàn háishì hěn qiáng.
  • English: Although it's cloudy in the sky, the UV rays are still strong.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence that shows 多云 doesn't mean you can forget about sun protection.
• Example 7:
  • 我个人更喜欢多云的天气，而不是大晴天。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèrén gèng xǐhuān duō yún de tiānqì, ér bùshì dà qíngtiān.
  • English: I personally prefer cloudy weather over a very sunny day.
  • Analysis: This directly expresses a preference, showing how the “comfort” aspect of a 多云 day can be valued.
• Example 8:
  • 北京未来三天的天气都是多云。
  • Pinyin: Běijīng wèilái sān tiān de tiānqì dōu shì duō yún.
  • English: The weather in Beijing for the next three days will be partly cloudy.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to talk about a weather pattern over a period of time.
• Example 9:
  • 我们到山顶的时候，天气从晴朗变成了多云。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen dào shāndǐng de shíhou, tiānqì cóng qínglǎng biànchéngle duō yún.
  • English: When we reached the mountain top, the weather changed from clear to partly cloudy.
  • Analysis: The structure “从…变成…” (cóng…biànchéng…) means “to change from…into…” and is useful for describing changes.
• Example 10:
  • 天气预报说今天多云，可是现在却下雨了。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō jīntiān duō yún, kěshì xiànzài què xià yǔ le.
  • English: The weather forecast said it would be cloudy today, but it's actually raining now.
  • Analysis: A realistic sentence showing how a forecast might not always be accurate, a common topic of conversation.

The most significant point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between 多云 (duō yún) and 阴天 (yīn tiān).

• 多云 (duō yún): Partly Cloudy / Mostly Cloudy.
  • Implies you can see separate, distinct clouds.
  • Patches of blue sky are often visible.
  • The sun might peek in and out. Think of a sky with puffy white clouds.
• 阴天 (yīn tiān): Overcast / Gloomy.
  • Implies the entire sky is covered by a uniform, solid layer of grey clouds.
  • You cannot see the sun or any blue sky.
  • It often feels darker and can be a precursor to rain.

Common Mistake: Using 多云 to describe a dark, grey, completely overcast day.

• Incorrect: 天空是灰色的，完全没有太阳。今天多云。 (Tiānkōng shì huīsè de, wánquán méiyǒu tàiyáng. Jīntiān duō yún.)
• Why it's wrong: A completely grey sky with no sun is the exact definition of 阴天 (yīn tiān).
• Correct: 天空是灰色的，完全没有太阳。今天阴天。 (Tiānkōng shì huīsè de, wánquán méiyǒu tàiyáng. Jīntiān yīn tiān.)

Think of it this way: if you can still make out the shape of individual clouds, it's 多云. If the sky is just a single sheet of grey, it's 阴天.

• 晴天 (qíng tiān) - Sunny day; clear sky. The direct antonym of cloudy/overcast weather.
• 阴天 (yīn tiān) - Overcast day. The term most often confused with 多云. It refers to a sky completely covered by clouds.
• 天气 (tiān qì) - Weather. The general category that 多云 belongs to.
• 天气预报 (tiān qì yù bào) - Weather forecast. The most common place to hear the term 多云.
• 下雨 (xià yǔ) - To rain. Another common weather condition that might follow an 阴天.
• 刮风 (guā fēng) - To be windy. Often occurs on 多云 days.
• 云 (yún) - Cloud. The root character and the object being described.
• 多云转晴 (duō yún zhuǎn qíng) - A common forecast phrase meaning “(The weather will) change from cloudy to clear.”
• 晴转多云 (qíng zhuǎn duō yún) - A common forecast phrase meaning “(The weather will) change from clear to cloudy.”