yin
/jɪn/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A principle in Chinese and related East Asian philosophies associated with dark, cool, female, etc. elements of the natural world.
Uncountable
num
The number one, primarily used in Scotland and Ulster
name
A surname.
name
an alternative name for the Shang dynasty
Example Sentences
- ""Steamed fish and chicken and vegetable soup and even mushrooms are considered cooling foods, edible materializations of the yang, the pure primal air. The yin, or earth element, inheres in fried dishes and especially in shark's fin soup. Am I right, Mr Lee?""
- "According to traditional Chinese medicine, blood carries chi, your “life force,” which fuels all the functions of the body. When you lose blood, you lose chi, and this causes your body to go into a state of yin (cold). When yin (cold) and yang (hot) are out of balance, your body will suffer physical disorders."
- "In ancient Chinese philosophy, the opposing forces of Yin (passive, feminine, night) and Yang (active, masculine, sun) balance life.[…] As we turn towards darker days (from November 1st until the winter solstice's darkest night on December 21st), we have a chance to turn inward for reflection. We enter a Yin phase."
Etymology
From early romanizations of Chinese 陰／阴 (yīn), originally used in reference to shaded areas, as of a mountain or home.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: -, 殷