# 陰 shady

(town) + 今 (now) + (decapitated cow)
★★★☆☆
11 strokes
DUPE
Unlike the OTHER shadow kanji (影) which is literal, this shadow kanji (陰) is more figurative: things that are shady, dark, secret, or hidden.

陰 is also the kanji used for naughty bits.

## Onyomi

IN |

## Mnemonic

| Right now this town is full of decapitated cows, lurking IN the shadows.

## Kunyomi

かげ | shadow, both literally , and more likely, metaphorically. If someone is operating shady deals from the shadows, you use this kanji. 1/2 KANA ★★★☆☆

## Jukugo

xxx　の お陰で(おかげで) | thanks to XXX ★★★☆☆ 1/2 KANA thanks to XXX (despite 陰　 being the 'bad shadow' kanji, お陰で　is not only used with bad things. You can say, thanks to you, I have mastered the techniques of Double Dutch, and it would be fine.)
陰気(いんき) な | gloomy ★★☆☆☆ 陰 (shady) + 気 (mood) = 陰気 (gloomy) gloomy or dark atmosphere
陰謀(いんぼう) | conspiracy ★☆☆☆☆ 陰 (shady) + 謀 (plot) = 陰謀 (conspiracy )
陰部(いんぶ) | sex organs ☆☆☆☆☆ NP 陰 (shady) + 部 (section) = 陰部 (sex organs) sex organs (no stars- people usually say 性器　せいき!)
陰核(いんかく) | clitoris ☆☆☆☆☆ SARC 陰 (shady) + 核 (nucleus) = 陰核 (clitoris) clitoris - not a word you'd use in most conversations, but I'm including it anyway because the literal translation is so irresistable: hidden nucleus! How boss is that?

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
陰 | shady | TOWN |
影 | shadow | HAIR |

That part of TOWN is shady so don't go there.

Your HAIR casts a shadow on your face.

## Synonyms

depression 憂鬱 落ち込む 気分がしずむ きが滅入る 陰気 ふてくされる うかない
shade 影 陰