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淫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
淫yínobscene, licentious, lewd, kinkyag, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
淫yínexcessunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
淫yínexcessiveunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
淫yínwantonunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
淫yínlasciviousunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
淫yíndepravedunknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #7114, Hard
yín(yin2) T2
  1. 1obscene, licentious, lewd, kinky
  2. 2excess
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

淫yín(yin2)

The character 淫 (yín) primarily refers to obscenity or lewdness, often in a sexual context. It can describe behavior, literature, or imagery that is considered morally inappropriate or excessive. In broader usage, it can also imply excess or wantonness in various situations.

Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#7114DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions of sexuality and morality can be quite conservative, making the term 淫 particularly sensitive. It reflects historical attitudes towards sexual behavior and how they influence contemporary views on decency.

Memory Tip

Think of 淫 (yín) as a 'yin' side of morality, where things become excessive and lewd. Visualize a character indulging in excess, perhaps in a lavish party that turns morally questionable, reinforcing the idea of inappropriate behavior.

Meanings of 淫

yín(yin2)
1obscene, licentious, lewd, kinky
2excess
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 淫

淫Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 淫

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Podcast: 淫

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AI Study Notes for 淫

Quick Contrast

淫 (yín) vs 露 (lù) — use 淫 for overt lewdness or obscenity, while 露 refers to revealing or exposing, often in a less explicit context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 淫, as it can have strong connotations and may not be suitable for formal contexts. Common collocations include 淫秽 (yín huì) meaning 'obscene' or 'vulgar'. Avoid using this word in polite conversation, as it may offend.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the official HSK levels, understanding 淫 can enhance vocabulary related to morality and social norms. Focus on its usage in literary contexts and how it contrasts with more neutral terms describing sexuality.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 淫 with similar-sounding words like 银 (yín), which means 'silver.' Remember that 淫 carries a much heavier moral weight, while 银 is neutral and straightforward.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 淫

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Etymology of 淫

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 淫

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

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Decomposition of 淫

IDS Structure⿰氵⿱爫壬
淫Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
爫zhao3
top
壬ren2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 淫?

How to say obscene, licentious, lewd, kinky in Chinese

“obscene, licentious, lewd, kinky” in Chinese is淫yín

The character 淫 (yín) primarily refers to obscenity or lewdness, often in a sexual context. It can describe behavior, literature, or imagery that is considered morally inappropriate or excessive. In broader usage, it can also imply excess or wantonness in various situations.

When to use 淫

Be cautious with the tone when using 淫, as it can have strong connotations and may not be suitable for formal contexts. Common collocations include 淫秽 (yín huì) meaning 'obscene' or 'vulgar'. Avoid using this word in polite conversation, as it may offend.

淫 or something close to it

淫 (yín) vs 露 (lù) — use 淫 for overt lewdness or obscenity, while 露 refers to revealing or exposing, often in a less explicit context.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 淫 with similar-sounding words like 银 (yín), which means 'silver.' Remember that 淫 carries a much heavier moral weight, while 银 is neutral and straightforward.

Write 淫

淫

Practice writing 淫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 淫

Words Containing This Character20
淫yínexcess
卖淫prostitution賣淫
手淫to masturbate
淫荡lascivious淫蕩
淫秽obscene淫穢
淫乱promiscuous淫亂
奸淫fornication姦淫
淫威abuse of authority
荒淫licentious
淫羊藿Epimedium, genus of herbaceous flowering plant, cultivated in the Far East as aphrodisiac
淫书obscene book淫書
骄奢淫逸decadent驕奢淫逸
淫贱wanton淫賤
淫亵obscene淫褻
淫乐vice淫樂
富贵不能淫not corrupted by wealth and honors富貴不能淫
淫靡profligate
淫棍lecher
淫雨excessive rain
荒淫无耻shameless荒淫無恥
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 淫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 淫

No, 淫 is generally considered inappropriate for casual conversations due to its strong negative connotations.

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