影 (yǐng) - Shadow — refers to a shadow, reflection, image, & also used in photography and film contexts.

影Tone 3

yǐng ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

樱咏

影 · yǐng

Shadow — refers to a shadow, reflection, image, silhouette, or trace;

also used in photography and film contexts.

Shadow — refers to a shadow, reflection, image,also used in photography and film contexts.

Usage highlights

ShadowMovie/filmPhotographyReflectionInfluence/impactTrace

Synonyms

  • 阴影— shadow, shade (often with negative connotation)
  • 影子— shadow, silhouette

Antonyms

  • 光— light (opposite of shadow)
  • 形— form, shape (as opposed to shadow)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The tree casts a long shadow (影子).
  • I saw my reflection in the water (倒影).
  • This is a black and white photograph (黑白照片).
  • We watched a movie at the cinema (电影).

Collocations

  • Shadow(影子)
  • Movie/film(电影)
  • Photography(摄影)
  • Reflection(倒影)
  • Influence/impact(影响)
  • Trace(踪影)

Idioms

  • Catch the wind and capture the shadow(捕风捉影)
  • A lonely shadow feeling self-pity(顾影自怜)
  • A shadow follows the form(形影不离)
  • A sword's shadow and a bow's sound(刀光剑影)
  • A fleeting shadow and a passing glimpse(浮光掠影)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 'shadow' often symbolizes something transient, illusory, or following closely.
  • Used in art forms like shadow puppetry (皮影戏), an intangible cultural heritage.
  • In Daoist philosophy, 'shadow' can represent the ephemeral nature of existence.

FAQ