陽
yō[jo̞ː]
The term yang is translated into Japanese as 陽 (yō).
陽 refers to the essential male principle and represents the positive, bright and active aspects of nature.
Meaning: essential male principle (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yō.
When do people say it?
This concept is used in the term 陰陽師 (onmyōji), which refers to traditional Japanese esoteric practitioners who used yin-yang divination.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the concept of 陽 is often contrasted with 陰 (in) to describe personality types. A person described as 陽 is seen as extroverted and cheerful, while someone who is 陰 is considered introverted or gloomy.
- The onmyōji mentioned on this page were once official government bureaucrats during the Heian period. They were not just mystics but were tasked with calendar making and protecting the capital from spiritual disasters.
- In Japanese, the term 陽 is often used to describe things that are physically pleasant, such as 陽だまり (hidamari), which refers to a sunny spot in a room or a patch of sunlight.
Examples in context
- 陰陽師身の上知らず。The Ying Yang diviner may not predict his own fate.This sentence shows a context involving the term 陽 within the word for a practitioner of yin-yang divination.Tatoeba #413579 by Scott, translation #413580 by Scott
- 陽の気が強い。yo no ki ga tsuyoi.The yang energy is strong.
- 陰と陽のバランスが大切だ。in to yo no baransu ga taisetsu da.The balance of yin and yang is important.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing traditional philosophy in a cafe.
- 蓮 Ren世界は陰と陽で成り立っている。sekai wa in to yo de naritatte iru.The world is made of yin and yang.
- 美咲 Misakiその考え方は面白いですね。sono kangaekata wa omoshiroi desu ne.That way of thinking is interesting.
- 蓮 Ren陽の要素も欠かせない。yo no youso mo kakasenai.The yang element is also indispensable.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんは詳しいのですね。ren san wa kuwashii no desu ne.You are very knowledgeable, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yang” translations and entries 陽, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
