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阴性 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阴性yīnxìngnegativeHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #8739, Very Hard
阴性yīnxìngfeminineHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #8739, Very Hard
yīnxìng(yin1xing4)yin xing T1
  1. 1negative
  2. 2feminine
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March 24, 2026

阴性(陰性)yīnxìng(yin1xing4)

阴性 (yīn xìng) refers to the concept of femininity or negativity, often used in contexts such as grammar, biology, or discussions about gender. In a broader sense, it can denote characteristics traditionally associated with women, such as softness or receptivity, contrasting with 阳性 (yáng xìng), which refers to masculinity or positivity.

Strokes14Frequency#8739DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 阴性 is often linked to traditional gender roles, where femininity is associated with qualities like gentleness and nurturing, reflecting historical views on women's roles in society. This can also be seen in Chinese medicine, where yin and yang represent balance in life.

Memory tip

Think of 阴 (yīn) as representing the hidden, dark side of a mountain, while 性 (xìng) symbolizes nature or essence. Visualize a shadowy figure (阴) that embodies feminine traits, like nurturing and gentleness, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 阴性

yīnxìng(yin1xing4)
1negative
2feminine
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About 阴性

阴性Simplified
陰性Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 阴性

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Podcast: 阴性

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AI study notes for 阴性

Quick Contrast

阴性 (yīn xìng) vs 女性 (nǚxìng) — use 阴性 for broader concepts of femininity or negativity, while 女性 specifically refers to women as a gender.

Usage Notes

阴性 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in scientific discussions about gender or biological classifications. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms that are less formal or have different connotations. Common collocations include '阴性特征' (feminine characteristics) and '阴性名词' (feminine nouns).

HSK Study Tips

While 阴性 is not a part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to gender and characteristics. Students should focus on understanding its use in describing gendered nouns and adjectives, which can enhance their comprehension of sentence structures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阴性 with other related terms such as 女性 (nǚ xìng), which specifically means 'female.' For instance, saying '阴性女性' is redundant; simply using '女性' is sufficient.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阴性

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Component characters

阴yīnovercast (weather)
HSK 26 strokes阝
View full entry
性xìngnature
HSK 48 strokes忄
View full entry

How to say negative in Chinese

“negative” in Chinese is阴性yīnxìng

阴性 (yīn xìng) refers to the concept of femininity or negativity, often used in contexts such as grammar, biology, or discussions about gender. In a broader sense, it can denote characteristics traditionally associated with women, such as softness or receptivity, contrasting with 阳性 (yáng xìng), which refers to masculinity or positivity.

When to use 阴性

阴性 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in scientific discussions about gender or biological classifications. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms that are less formal or have different connotations. Common collocations include '阴性特征' (feminine characteristics) and '阴性名词' (feminine nouns).

阴性 or something close to it

阴性 (yīn xìng) vs 女性 (nǚxìng) — use 阴性 for broader concepts of femininity or negativity, while 女性 specifically refers to women as a gender.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阴性 with other related terms such as 女性 (nǚ xìng), which specifically means 'female.' For instance, saying '阴性女性' is redundant; simply using '女性' is sufficient.

Write 阴性

阴
性

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

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Frequently asked questions about 阴性

The opposite of 阴性 is 阳性 (yáng xìng), which refers to masculinity or positive characteristics.

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