雲(くも)

雲(くも) means cloud - visible water vapor floating in the sky.

Watch out

雲(くも) (cloud) vs. 蜘蛛(くも) (spider) - same pronunciation, different kanji.

Types of clouds

• 雨雲(あまぐも): rain cloud
• 入道雲(にゅうどうぐも): cumulonimbus (towering summer clouds)
• 綿雲(わたぐも): cumulus (fluffy clouds)
• 鰯雲(いわしぐも): cirrocumulus (mackerel sky)

Common expressions

• 雲(くも)が出(で)る: clouds appear
• 雲(くも)が流(なが)れる: clouds drift
• 雲(くも)をつかむよう: vague, elusive (lit. like grasping clouds)
• 雲海(うんかい): sea of clouds (scenic view from mountains)

Weather

• 雲(くも)が多(おお)い: cloudy
• 曇(くも)り: cloudy weather (related word)