Definitions
About
The character for "sunlight" or the masculine principle in Chinese cosmology originates from a concept of topography, specifically the side of a hill or mountain that faces the sun. Its earliest forms combined an element representing a mound or elevation with another depicting the sun, often accompanied by ornamental lines suggesting rays, to directly illustrate this sunny slope. Over time, its meaning expanded from this concrete geographical reference to encompass the sun itself, daylight, and the associated qualities of openness, warmth, and positivity. This semantic broadening was further cemented by its adoption into the philosophical system of yin and yang, where "阳" (yang) crystallized as the active, bright, and masculine cosmic force. The traditional form, "陽", maintains these original compositional elements, a radical suggesting terrain on the left and a component historically representing the sun with decorative rays on the right. The simplified form, "阳", streamards this by replacing the complex right-hand component with the straightforward character for "sun" (日), making the connection to solar light more immediately apparent while retaining the topographical clue on the left.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
今天的阳光很温暖。
阳台上的花开了。
洛阳是历史悠久的城市。
太阳从东方升起。
他性格很阳光。
太阳能是清洁能源。
夕阳把天空染成金色。
阳台上晒太阳有利于健康。