Nearby words
Origin of yin
1First recorded in 1890–95
Definition for yin (2 of 4)
Definition for yin (3 of 4)
Definition for yin (4 of 4)
yin and yang
noun (used with a singular or plural verb)
(in Chinese philosophy and religion) two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin), and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang), whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.
Origin of yin and yang
First recorded in 1930–35, yin and yang is from the Chinese word yīn-yáng
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Examples from the Web for yin
British Dictionary definitions for yin (1 of 2)
British Dictionary definitions for yin (2 of 2)
Yin and Yang
/ (jɪn) /
noun
two complementary principles of Chinese philosophy: Yin is negative, dark, and feminine, Yang positive, bright, and masculine. Their interaction is thought to maintain the harmony of the universe and to influence everything within it
Word Origin for Yin and Yang
from Chinese (Peking) yin dark + yang bright
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Culture definitions for yin
yin and yang
Two forces in the universe, according to a Chinese theory: yin is the passive, negative force, and yang the active, positive force. According to this theory, wise people will detect these forces in the seasons, in their food, and so on, and will regulate their lives accordingly.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.