阴

陰/隂
yīn
月 + 阝
HSK 2.0Level 2
HSK 3.0Level 2

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).

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:

荫

Component: 月

有 明 月 期 望 服 青 朝 育 脸 股 脑 胜 背

Component: 阝

那 都 部 队 院 际 除 阿 随 陈 防 限 阳 险

Example Words

光阴 阴冷 阴天 阴影 阴暗 阴谋 阴霾 光阴似箭 平阴 江阴 江阴市 阴功 阴差阳错 阴性 阴暗面 阴历 阴柔 阴森 阴沉 阴沉沉 阴凉 阴沟 阴湿 阴笑