Yin Yang in Chinese
The Chinese word for yin yang is 阴阳 (yīn yáng). The two complementary forces of Chinese philosophy. In traditional characters it is written 陰陽.
yīn yáng
Yin Yang
What 阴阳 means.
阴 began as the shady side of a hill and 阳 as the sunny side. Together they describe how opposites depend on each other: night and day, rest and action. The familiar black and white symbol is the 太极图.
- 阴
- shade, the receptive
- 阳
- sun, the active
Simplified and traditional
阴阳
陰陽
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 陰陽 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 阴阳 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About yin yang in Chinese
How do you write yin yang in Chinese?
Yin Yang is 阴阳 in Chinese, pronounced yīn yáng. Yin and yang 阴 means “shade, the receptive”, 阳 means “sun, the active”.
How do you pronounce 阴阳?
Say yīn (first tone, high and level), yáng (second tone, rising). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 阴阳 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 陰陽, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 阴阳 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 阴阳 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.