Meaning
The kanji 曇 (kumo.ru) primarily means 'cloudy', 'overcast', or 'to cloud over'. It describes a state where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked, causing dimness or dullness. Beyond literal weather, 曇 also applies metaphorically to things that become dim, dull, or gloomy. For instance, it can describe a mirror fogging up, someone's expression turning sad, or even a feeling of gloominess.
Looking at its visual structure helps us understand its meaning. This kanji is formed by combining two parts that both hint at its meaning, making it easy to remember. It combines two key elements:
- 日 (ひ/にち): Positioned on the left, this radical means 'sun' or 'day'.
- 雲 (くも): Positioned on the right, this character means 'cloud'.
Together, these components clearly show the meaning: when the 'sun' (日) is covered by 'clouds' (雲), the sky becomes 'cloudy' (曇). Thus, 曇 literally depicts the sun's brightness being hidden by clouds, creating an overcast sky.
The kanji 曇 has 16 strokes and is a Joyo Kanji, typically taught in secondary schools in Japan. Its radical, 日, reinforces its connection to weather and daytime conditions.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
While 曇 is mostly used with its native Japanese Kun'yomi reading, you'll find one main On'yomi reading: ドン (DON). This reading is almost exclusively used in a specific weather-related compound, indicating that On'yomi for 曇 are uncommon in general.
ドン (DON)
曇天 (donten) — cloudy weather, overcast sky. This compound combines 曇 (cloudy) with 天 (sky/heaven), literally 'cloudy sky'. It's often used for a day that is consistently overcast.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi are the native Japanese readings, and for 曇, these are the most common and versatile. They are essential for understanding how this kanji is used daily, especially as a verb.
くも.る (kumoru): This is the primary verb form, meaning 'to become cloudy', 'to become overcast', 'to fog up', 'to become dim', or 'to become gloomy'. It is an intransitive verb.
空が曇る (sora ga kumoru) — The sky becomes cloudy. (The most common usage.)
鏡が曇る (kagami ga kumoru) — The mirror fogs up. (Describes a surface losing its clarity.)
顔色が曇る (ganshoku ga kumoru) — One's expression darkens/clouds over. (A metaphorical use, indicating sadness or worry.)
くもり (kumori): While technically the stem (連用形, ren'yōkei) of the verb 曇る, this form very often functions as a noun meaning 'cloudiness' or 'cloudy weather'. It's frequently used in weather forecasts and compound words.
曇 (kumori) — Cloudiness; cloudy weather. (E.g., 明日は曇りです - It will be cloudy tomorrow.)
曇空 (kumorizora) — Cloudy sky. (A common descriptive noun phrase.)
曇り止め (kumoridome) — Anti-fog (e.g., anti-fog spray for glasses or mirrors).
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 曇 appears in many words and compounds, particularly those related to weather or states of diminished clarity and mood. Let's look at some key examples, grouped by common themes:
Weather-Related Terms
- 曇 (kumori) — Cloudiness, cloudy weather. The basic noun form often heard in daily weather reports.
- 曇空 (kumorizora) — Cloudy sky. Describes an overcast day.
- 曇天 (donten) — Overcast sky, cloudy weather. A more formal term for a cloudy sky, using the On'yomi.
- 薄曇 (usugumori) — Slightly cloudy, thinly overcast. Describes a sky that is not fully clear but not heavily overcast either.
- 本曇 (hongumori) — Completely overcast, fully cloudy. Indicates a sky that is entirely covered by clouds.
- 曇後晴 (kumori nochi hare) — Cloudy, later clear. A common phrase in weather forecasts.
- 曇一時雨 (kumori ichiji ame) — Cloudy, with occasional rain. Another frequently heard weather forecast term.
Figurative & Descriptive Terms
- 曇りガラス (kumorigarasu) — Frosted glass, opaque glass. Describes glass that is not fully transparent.
- 曇り止め (kumoridome) — Anti-fogging (agent/treatment). Used for products that prevent surfaces from fogging up.
- 顔が曇る (kao ga kumoru) — To look gloomy/sad, one's face clouds over. A common idiom for showing sadness or worry.
- 心が曇る (kokoro ga kumoru) — One's heart becomes gloomy/troubled. Refers to a state of emotional distress or sadness.
- 曇りなき眼 (kumori naki manako) — Unclouded eyes, clear vision/insight. Describes having a clear perspective or judgment.
Example Sentences
今日は空が少し曇っています。
Kyou wa sora ga sukoshi kumotteimasu.
The sky is a little cloudy today.
天気予報によると、明日は曇りです。
Tenki yohou ni yoru to, ashita wa kumori desu.
According to the weather forecast, it will be cloudy tomorrow.
湿度が高くて、お風呂場の鏡がすぐ曇ります。
Shitsudo ga takakute, ofuroba no kagami ga sugu kumorimasu.
The humidity is high, so the bathroom mirror fogs up quickly.
彼は悲しいニュースを聞いて、表情が曇りました。
Kare wa kanashii nyuusu wo kiite, hyoujou ga kumorimashita.
He heard the sad news and his expression clouded over.
窓の外は一日中曇天で、気持ちまで暗くなりがちです。
Mado no soto wa ichinichijuu donten de, kimochi made kuraku nari gachi desu.
It was an overcast sky outside the window all day, making me prone to feeling gloomy.
古いレンズは使い込むと曇ってくることがあります。
Furui renzu wa tsukai komu to kumottekuru koto ga arimasu.
Old lenses can sometimes cloud over with prolonged use.
雨が降る前は、よく空が曇りますよね。
Ame ga furu mae wa, yoku sora ga kumorimasu yo ne.
Before it rains, the sky often clouds over, doesn't it?
彼女は試験の結果を見て、目を曇らせました。
Kanojo wa shiken no kekka wo mite, me wo kumorasemashita.
She looked at her exam results and her eyes clouded with disappointment.
天気予報は曇時々晴れでしたが、実際は一日中本曇でした。
Tenki yohou wa kumori tokidoki hare deshita ga, jissai wa ichinichijuu hongumori deshita.
The weather forecast was for cloudy, sometimes clear, but in reality, it was completely overcast all day.
大事な約束を忘れてしまい、私の心は曇り切ってしまいました。
Daiji na yakusoku wo wasurete shimai, watashi no kokoro wa kumorikitte shimaimashita.
I forgot an important appointment, and my heart became completely gloomy.
Memory Tip
Remembering the kanji 曇 (cloudy) is easy once you break it down into its components. On the left is 日 (hi/nichi), representing the 'sun' or 'day'. On the right, you'll find 雲 (kumo), meaning 'cloud'. Imagine a bright 'sun' (日) in the sky. Then, 'clouds' (雲) gather and cover it. When clouds obscure the sun, the day becomes 'cloudy'. Thus, 曇 literally shows the 'sun' vanishing behind 'clouds', resulting in an 'overcast' or 'cloudy' condition. Visualizing the sun engulfed by clouds will help you easily recall this kanji.