An overcast day is a cloudy day where the sun is obscured.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to a sky covered by clouds.
- Used to describe overcast weather conditions.
- Commonly contrasted with sunny or rainy days.
1) 概述：阴天（yīntiān）是描述天气最基础的词汇之一。从气象学角度看，当云量覆盖天空大部分时，即为阴天。它与晴天（阳光明媚）和雨天（正在降水）形成鲜明对比。
2) 用法模式：作为一个名词，它通常作主语或宾语。例如：“今天是阴天”或“我喜欢阴天”。它也可以作为定语，如“阴天的下午”。
3) 常见语境：人们在讨论心情、出行计划或户外活动时常使用该词。阴天往往给人一种安静、凉爽或略带忧郁的感觉，因此在文学描写中也常用来烘托某种特定的情绪氛围。
4) 近义词辨析：与“多云”相比，“阴天”的云层更厚，阳光更少，有时甚至感觉不到阳光的存在；而“多云”则意味着云层间隙仍可见蓝天和阳光。与“雨天”相比，阴天虽然光线暗淡，但并不一定伴随降水。
Examples
今天是阴天，不用带太阳镜。
everydayIt is an overcast day today, you don't need sunglasses.
虽然是阴天，但温度很舒适。
formalAlthough it is cloudy, the temperature is comfortable.
我喜欢在阴天读书。
informalI like reading on cloudy days.
该地区常年阴天，降水稀少。
academicThis region is overcast all year round with little precipitation.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
阴天多云
Cloudy with overcast
阴天转晴
Cloudy turning sunny
总是阴天
Always cloudy
Often Confused With
Cloudy with sunny intervals. It implies a brighter sky than '阴天'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term is neutral and widely used in all contexts. It is a fundamental weather descriptor. Use it to inform others about current light levels.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often use '阴天' to mean 'dark night', which is incorrect. Remember it applies only to daytime. Do not confuse it with '下雨' (raining).
Tips
Use with '今天是'
When describing the weather today, always start with '今天是...' followed by '阴天'. This is the most natural way to report weather.
Don't confuse with dark
While '阴天' is dark, it refers specifically to daytime cloud coverage. Do not use it to describe the darkness of nighttime.
Mood and weather
In Chinese literature, '阴天' is often used metaphorically to represent a sad or melancholy mood. It reflects the connection between environment and emotion.
Word Origin
The character 阴 represents the 'shady' or 'dark' side of a mountain. Combined with 天 (sky), it literally means the 'dark side of the sky'.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, overcast weather is often associated with a peaceful yet slightly pensive state of mind. It is frequently referenced in poetry to set a reflective tone.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big grey cloud (阴) covering the sky during the day (天). It's just a cloudy day!
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions多云通常指云层较多，但仍可见蓝天和阳光。阴天则表示云层很厚，几乎完全遮住了太阳，光线明显变暗。
阴天非常适合户外运动，因为没有强烈的阳光直射，体感温度较为凉爽。很多人喜欢在阴天跑步或散步。
有的，“阴”在中文里还可以指代与太阳相对的冷暗面，或者在某些词汇中表示隐蔽、消极的一面。
不一定。阴天只是描述云层覆盖的状态，它可能是下雨的前奏，也可能保持一整天阴沉而不降雨。
Test Yourself
今天天气不好，是___。
阴天描述的是天气状况，符合语境。
Score: /1
Summary
An overcast day is a cloudy day where the sun is obscured.
- Refers to a sky covered by clouds.
- Used to describe overcast weather conditions.
- Commonly contrasted with sunny or rainy days.
Use with '今天是'
When describing the weather today, always start with '今天是...' followed by '阴天'. This is the most natural way to report weather.
Don't confuse with dark
While '阴天' is dark, it refers specifically to daytime cloud coverage. Do not use it to describe the darkness of nighttime.
Mood and weather
In Chinese literature, '阴天' is often used metaphorically to represent a sad or melancholy mood. It reflects the connection between environment and emotion.
Examples
4 of 4今天是阴天，不用带太阳镜。
It is an overcast day today, you don't need sunglasses.
虽然是阴天，但温度很舒适。
Although it is cloudy, the temperature is comfortable.
我喜欢在阴天读书。
I like reading on cloudy days.
该地区常年阴天，降水稀少。
This region is overcast all year round with little precipitation.
