yang

American  

[yahng, yang] / yɑŋ, yæŋ /

noun

1. (in Chinese philosophy and religion) the positive, bright, and masculine principle, the counterpart of yin.

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Yang ¹ British  

/ jæŋ /

noun

1. See Yin and Yang

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Yang ² British  

/ jæŋ /

noun

1. Chen Ning (ˈtʃɛn ˈnɪŋ). born 1922, US physicist, born in China: with Tsung-Dao Lee, he disproved the physical principle known as the conservation of parity and shared the Nobel prize for physics (1957)

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Usage

What else does yang mean? Yang is a common Chinese surname. It also refers to a cosmic force present in ancient Chinese philosophy, typically associated with masculinity, sunlight, and the color white.

Explanation

Yang is the masculine, positive principle in Chinese philosophy. It’s associated with heaven and activity. Have you balanced your yin and yang? In Chinese philosophy, these two qualities or principles, which exist in everyone, represent femaleness (yin) and maleness (yang). Achieving a balance between the two is considered important for having a happy, healthy life. Yang has to do with maleness as well as heaven, light, activity, and warmth. The black and white symbol of yin and yang represents how they complete a whole. Yin and yang are almost always discussed together.

Example Sentences

The source said the deputy should be the "yin to the yang" of No 10.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025

He seemed extremely stable — like he could be the yin to my yang.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2025

"We see the yin and yang of human existence in the ancient Maya," Lentz said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2024

Throughout the years Leon has remained a resident at Larry David's home, and the perfect sidekick: the yin to Larry’s yang and the only person able to balance Larry out.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2024

The yin fixes the yang, the image restores the original: with DNA, as with Dorian Gray, the prototype is constantly reinvigorated by its portrait.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee