陰

Opposite of 陽 (“sunlight, yang”). Many compound words use 陰/陽 as antonymic pairs.

Originally written 侌, later combined with 阜 (阝 “hill, mound”) to form 陰.

侌 itself is composed of 今 (jin, “now”) and 云 (yun, “cloud”), conveying “dark, covered, hidden.”

As a whole: a hillside in shadow/cloud cover → “shade, darkness.”

Expressions:

陰影 (“shadow, shade, influence”),

陰陽 (“yin–yang”),

陰性 (“negative [in testing], recessive [in genetics], yin nature”).

陰 symbolizes the dark, cool, passive, feminine, and receptive principle in yin–yang cosmology.

Opposed and complementary to 陽 (sun, warmth, activity, masculinity).

In medicine and Daoist thought, balance between 陰 and 陽 is the basis of health and harmony.

古字 (archaic form): 𠆭, with round, cursive-like strokes.

俗字 (vulgar form): 隂, with 人 under 镸.