altocumulus cloud; sheep cloud
A type of mid-level cloud that appears as a layer of small, white, fluffy patches, often resembling a flock of sheep. Used in weather contexts and everyday description.
See also: 高積雲
Altocumulus clouds are spreading across the sky.
When altocumulus clouds appear, the weather often turns bad.
Standard kanji spelling; literally 'sheep cloud'.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; common in everyday writing.
Compound of 羊 (ひつじ, 'sheep') and 雲 (くも, 'cloud'), from the resemblance of altocumulus formations to a flock of sheep.