空模様

Japanese

Kanji in this term
空	模	様
そら Grade: 1	も Grade: 6	よう Grade: 3
kun’yomi	on’yomi

Alternative spelling
空模樣 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 空 (“sky”) +‎ 模様 (“state, condition”)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) そらも​よー [sòrámóꜜyòò] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [so̞ɾa̠mo̞jo̞ː]

Noun

空(そら)模(も)様(よう) • (soramoyō) 

1. look of the sky; weather

   嵐(あらし)の来(き)そうな空模様(そらもよう)だ

   arashi no kisō na soramoyō da

   It seems like the storm will come (judging by the look of the sky)

2. development, progress, course (of events)

   空模様(そらもよう)が怪(あや)しい

   soramoyō ga ayashī

   (the course of events) is going toward a weird direction

Usage notes

In both senses, this word is usually used in situations where the weather or the course of events will become undesirable.