[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Celestial-Phenomena # 云 yún cloud ## Components [[二 (èr)]] [[厶 (sī)]] ## Meaning The Chinese character 云 (yún) has several meanings: 1. **Cloud**: It refers to the visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere. For example: - 云彩 (yúncai) - cloud - 云层 (yúncéng) - cloud layer 2. **To Say, To Speak, To State**: It is used as a verb to indicate speaking or stating something. For example: - 如云 (rúyún) - numerous, countless - 告云 (gàoyún) - to declare, to announce 3. **Surname**: 云 (Yún) is also used as a surname in Chinese. ## History In its earliest form, found in Oracle Bone Script (甲骨文, jiǎgǔwén), it was a pictograph representing clouds in the sky, depicted as swirling lines. In Seal Script (篆书, zhuànshū), the character 云 (yún) took on a more standardized form. The swirling lines were simplified into more straight and angular strokes. This trend continued in Clerical Script (隶书, lìshū), where the character became even more stylized and standardized, with the angular strokes of the Seal Script further simplified into a more geometric form. Finally, in Regular Script (楷书, kǎishū), the character underwent further refinement, with strokes and proportions adjusted to create a form similar to its modern printed version. Throughout its evolution, the character 云 (yún) has retained its fundamental meaning of "cloud." It is also used as a verb to indicate speaking or stating something. Additionally, 云 (Yún) is used as a surname in Chinese. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[云 ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[云 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[云 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[云 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[云 reg.svg]]