叇 (dài) - Dense, thick clouds & obscure, dim

叇Tone 4

dài ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

叇 · dài

Dense, thick clouds;

obscure, dim;

used almost exclusively in the word 叆叇 (ài dài) meaning 'dense clouds obscuring the sun' or 'dark and cloudy'.

Dense, thick cloudsobscure, dimused almost exclusively in the word 叆叇 (ài

Usage highlights

Dense cloudsCloudy skyObscure meaningAncient eyeglasses

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 晴— clear/sunny
  • 明— bright

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sky was overcast with dense clouds (云叆叇).
  • The meaning was obscure and unclear (意义叆叇).
  • A pair of sunglasses (叆叇, archaic term for eyeglasses).

Collocations

  • Dense clouds(叆叇)
  • Cloudy sky(云叆叇)
  • Obscure meaning(意义叆叇)
  • Ancient eyeglasses(叆叇)

Idioms

  • Clouds obscuring the sun(云叆叇)
  • Dim and obscure(叆叇不明)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily appears in classical Chinese poetry and literature to describe cloudy, overcast weather.
  • The compound 叆叇 was historically used to refer to eyeglasses when they were first introduced to China.
  • Considered a highly literary character, rarely used in modern vernacular Chinese.

FAQ