云层 (yún céng) — cloud layer | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cloud layer

Measure word · 层

Examples

云层。
Jīn tiān tiān kōng zhōng de yún céng hěn hòu.
The cloud layer in the sky today is very thick.
云层，。
Fēi jī chuān guò yún céng hòu, yáng guāng biàn de hěn cì yǎn.
After the plane passed through the cloud layer, the sunlight became very dazzling.
，云层。
Cóng shān dǐng wàng qù, yún céng xiàng yí piàn bái sè de hǎi yáng.
Looking from the mountaintop, the cloud layer looks like a white ocean.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“云” names clouds and “层” names a layer, so a layer of clouds.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 雲; 云 is its simplified writing.

雨云雲

雨雨yǔrain
云云yúncloud

The traditional form 雲 is 雨 (rain) plus 云; 云 was the original writing for 'cloud', and 雨 was added to separate it from the borrowed sense 'to say'.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

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