阴

陰/隂

yīn

月 + 阝

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Definitions

yīn (adjective) cloudy; overcast; shady

yīn (noun) negative; female principle (in Yin-Yang)

yīn (adjective) negative (electrical)

yīn (adjective) hidden; implicit

Etymology

The traditional characters 陰 (Yin) and 陽 (Yang) were simplified to 阴 and 阳. In Chinese philosophy, the moon (月) corresponds to Yin (阴) and the sun (日) corresponds to Yang (阳).

About

The simplified character 阴 comes from traditional 陰, retaining the left hill radical 阝 while replacing the phonetic 侌 on the right with 月 (moon), reflecting the moon's association with Yin. Its original meaning was the shaded northern slope of a hill or the southern bank of a river, environments naturally sheltered from direct sunlight. This idea of shade and darkness extended into the philosophical Yin principle, representing the feminine, passive, and receptive forces in Chinese cosmology, complementing the bright, active Yang (阳).

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今天天气很阴。

Jīntiān tiānqì hěn yīn.

The weather is very cloudy today.

树荫底下很阴凉。

Shùyīn dǐxia hěn yīnliáng.

It's very cool in the shade under the tree.

她的性格有点阴沉。

Tā de xìnggé yǒudiǎn yīnchén.

Her personality is a bit gloomy.

这是一间阴面的房间。

Zhè shì yī jiān yīnmiàn de fángjiān.

This is a room that doesn't get direct sunlight.

阴谋最终被揭穿了。

Yīnmóu zuìzhōng bèi jiēchuān le.

The conspiracy was finally exposed.

中医讲究阴阳平衡。

Zhōngyī jiǎngjiū yīn yáng pínghéng.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the balance of yin and yang.

山洞里阴暗又潮湿。

Shāndòng lǐ yīn'àn yòu cháoshī.

It's dark and damp inside the cave.

这些证据可能是阴性的。

Zhèxiē zhèngjù kěnéng shì yīnxìng de.

This evidence might be negative.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 月

Component: 阝

Example Words