1.
cloud
A visible mass of water vapor in the sky.
雲 means cloud - visible water vapor floating in the sky.
HOMOPHONE:
雲 (cloud) vs. 蜘蛛 (spider) - same pronunciation, different kanji.
TYPES OF CLOUDS:
- 雨雲: rain cloud
- 入道雲: cumulonimbus (towering summer clouds)
- 綿雲: cumulus (fluffy clouds)
- 鰯雲: cirrocumulus (mackerel sky)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 雲が出る: clouds appear
- 雲が流れる: clouds drift
- 雲をつかむよう: vague, elusive (lit. like grasping clouds)
- 雲海: sea of clouds (scenic view from mountains)
WEATHER:
- 雲が多い: cloudy
- 曇り: cloudy weather (related word)