昙
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: dark clouds
💡 Sun (日) behind clouds (云): dark clouds blocking sunlight.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
昙 (tán) means 'dark clouds' and appears in the word 昙花 (tánhuā), meaning 'epiphyllum' or 'night-blooming cereus'. This flower blooms briefly at night, giving rise to the idiom 昙花一现 (tánhuā yīxiàn), which describes something short-lived or fleeting. The character combines the sun radical 日 with 云 (yún, 'cloud'), visually suggesting clouds covering the sun.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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