荫凉 (yìn liáng) — shady and cool (of a place sheltered from the s…

Definition

Describes a place that is shady and cool because it is sheltered from the sun — used for spots, courtyards, or rooms, not people.

adjective

shady and cool (of a place sheltered from the sun)

Easily confused

荫凉。
Xià tiān zài shù dǐ xià hěn yìn liáng.
In summer it's shady and cool under the trees.
荫凉。
Zhè ge yuàn zi yòu yìn liáng yòu ān jìng.
This courtyard is both shady and quiet.
荫凉。
Zhǎo gè yìn liáng de dì fāng xiū xi yí xià ba.
Find a shady, cool spot and rest for a while.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

荫 and 凉 together describe a place that is shaded and cool.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蔭; 荫 is its simplified writing.

艹陰蔭

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

陰

陰yīn蔭yìn

Same sound today

The traditional form 蔭 has 艹 (grass) and 陰 (shade), with 陰 giving the sound; 荫 is a later simplified form.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 涼; 凉 is its simplified writing.

氵京涼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng涼liáng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 涼 combines 氵 (water) with 京, which gives the sound; the simplified 凉 is a later abbreviation.