light at the end of the tunnel; relief after hardship; open sky beyond the clouds
A yojijukugo used to express hope or relief after enduring difficulty, likened to emerging from clouds into clear sky. The literal image is 'blue sky beyond the clouds'.
After the long recession, we finally feel like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
受験勉強は大変だったが、合格して雲外蒼天の心境です。
Studying for the exam was tough, but now that I've passed, I feel a great sense of relief.
Both are yojijukugo, but 雨後の筍 describes things appearing in quick succession after an event, while 雲外蒼天 focuses on the emotional relief after hardship.
Similar meaning of relief after suffering, but 苦尽甘来 is less common and more directly states 'bitterness ends, sweetness comes', while 雲外蒼天 uses a nature metaphor.
A yojijukugo composed of 雲 (cloud), 外 (outside), 蒼 (blue), and 天 (sky). The phrase literally means 'blue sky beyond the clouds', symbolizing hope after difficulty. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common four-character idiomatic pattern in Japanese.