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侌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yīnold variant of 陰|阴[yin1]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 人, Very Hard
yīn(yin1) T1
  1. 1old variant of 陰|阴[yin1]
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March 24, 2026
yīn(yin1)

The character 侌 (yīn) is an old variant of the character 陰 (yīn), which means 'shadow' or 'the negative side' in Chinese. It can refer to various contexts, such as dark, gloomy, or hidden aspects, often associated with femininity or the moon. This character is less commonly used in modern Mandarin but can be encountered in classical literature or historical texts.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 陰 is associated with femininity, the moon, and the idea of passivity, contrasting with 陽 (yáng), which represents masculinity and activity. This duality is fundamental in Chinese philosophy, particularly in concepts like Yin-Yang.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shadowy figure (侌) lurking behind you, representing the hidden and mysterious aspects of life. The character features the radical for 'person' (亻) on the left, suggesting a connection to human experiences, while the right side hints at the concept of darkness or shadow, which ties back to its meaning.

Meanings of 侌

yīn(yin1)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 侌

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 侌

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AI Study Notes for 侌

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a shadowy figure (侌) lurking behind you, representing the hidden and mysterious aspects of life. The character features the radical for 'person' (亻) on the left, suggesting a connection to human experiences, while the right side hints at the concept of darkness or shadow, which ties back to its meaning.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 侌 with 陰, but it's essential to use the correct character based on context. 侌 is rarely used in contemporary conversations, so it may be more appropriate in literary discussions. Watch out for tone mistakes, as mispronouncing yīn could change its meaning in different contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 侌 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its relation to 陰 (which is in HSK 3) can help learners understand its usage. Focus on the meaning of 陰 and its applications in phrases to grasp the nuances of 侌, especially in classical texts.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 陰 is associated with femininity, the moon, and the idea of passivity, contrasting with 陽 (yáng), which represents masculinity and activity. This duality is fundamental in Chinese philosophy, particularly in concepts like Yin-Yang.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to use 侌 in modern contexts where 陰 would be more appropriate, such as saying '侌天' instead of '陰天' for 'cloudy day.' Additionally, learners might mispronounce yīn as yǐn, which alters its meaning significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 侌

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Etymology of 侌

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 侌?

Decomposition of 侌

IDS Structure⿱今云
Full Character
=
jin1
top
yun2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 侌?

Write 侌

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Cultural Notes for 侌

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 陰 is associated with femininity, the moon, and the idea of passivity, contrasting with 陽 (yáng), which represents masculinity and activity. This duality is fundamental in Chinese philosophy, particularly in concepts like Yin-Yang.

Word Family of 侌

Words Containing This Character1
yīncloudy
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 侌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 侌

侌 is an old variant of 陰, and while they share similar meanings related to darkness and shadow, 侌 is rarely used in modern Mandarin.