荫

廕/蔭

yìn, yīn

艹 + 阴

Definitions

yìn (verb) shade; to give shade

yìn (adjective) shady

Etymology

Shade 阴 provided by a tree 艹; 阴 also provides the pronunciation

About

Both simplified 荫 and traditional 蔭 are phono-semantic compounds: the top radical 艹 ('grass/vegetation') indicates plant life, while the bottom component 阴 (or 陰) provides the pronunciation and the meaning of shade or darkness. The character's primary sense is the physical shade cast by trees and large plants. This image of sheltering foliage extended metaphorically to protection, blessings, or patronage from higher authorities or ancestors, and so 荫 is commonly used for inherited privileges, ancestral blessings, and the sheltering influence of previous generations.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

树荫下很凉爽。

Shù yīn xià hěn liángshuǎng.

It is very cool under the tree shade.

我们在树荫里休息。

Wǒmen zài shù yīn lǐ xiūxi.

We are resting in the tree shade.

这片树荫挡住了阳光。

Zhè piàn shù yīn dǎngzhù le yángguāng.

This patch of tree shade blocks the sunlight.

院子里有荫凉的地方。

Yuànzi lǐ yǒu yīnliáng de dìfāng.

There are shady spots in the courtyard.

大树为人们提供荫蔽。

Dà shù wèi rénmen tígōng yīnbì.

The big tree provides shade for people.

他在父亲的荫庇下成长。

Tā zài fùqīn de yīnbì xià chéngzhǎng.

He grew up under the protection of his father.

浓密的树荫使得夏天不那么炎热。

Nóngmì de shù yīn shǐde xiàtiān bù nàme yánrè.

The dense tree shade makes the summer less hot.

这家公司得益于政府的政策荫庇。

Zhè jiā gōngsī déyì yú zhèngfǔ de zhèngcè yīnbì.

This company benefits from the protection of government policies.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

荫