yang

Everyday

1. (Chinese philosophy) Yang is one half of yin and yang, the old Chinese idea that the world is made of two opposite forces that balance each other; yang is the bright, warm, active, «sunny» side. tree →
2. (Mandarin, pinyin) Yáng is a Chinese word that can mean sun or sunshine (as in tàiyáng, the sun), or sheep or goat, depending on the tone and character; it is not an English word. To an English ear it sounds like «yahng». tree →
3. Yang is a common Chinese surname (a name). tree →

In the lessons

In religion and culture lessons yin and yang is shown as a circle of a black and a white swirl, each with a dot of the other colour, meaning that opposites belong together. In Mandarin lessons yáng appears in words like tàiyáng (sun) and yáng (sheep) in the Chinese zodiac. Phrases: yin and yang.

Examples

• Yin and yang are opposites that balance each other, like night and day. tree →
• The yin-yang symbol is a circle of black and white swirls. tree →
• In Chinese thought, yang is bright, warm and active. tree →
• (Mandarin) Tàiyáng means the sun. tree →
• (Mandarin) In the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Goat is also called the Year of the Sheep, yáng. tree →
• Our new classmate's surname is Yang. tree →
• My brother is noisy and I am quiet; Mum says we are yin and yang. tree →

Note

Always «yin and yang», in that order. Yang is not «good» and yin is not «bad»: they are equal halves. In pinyin the tone mark changes the meaning: yáng (sheep, sun) differs from yǎng (raise, look after).