Shuǐlóngjuǎn shì lóngjuǎnfēng zài shuǐmiàn shàng de xíngtài.
A waterspout is a tornado in its over-water form.
Tips
memory
Pairs with 龙卷风 (lóngjuǎnfēng) 'tornado' — literally 'dragon-rolling wind.' Swap 风 'wind' for 水 'water' and you get the over-water version. The dragon imagery is apt: ancient texts described waterspouts as dragons sucking water up to the sky.
