Chinese word

影子

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐng zi

Meaning

  • nounshadow

Example

太阳下我的影子很长。tài yáng xià wǒ de yǐng zi hěn cháng

My shadow is very long in the sun.

Illustration for 影子 (shadow)

More examples

孩子躲在树的影子后面玩捉迷藏。hái zi duǒ zài shù de yǐng zi hòu miàn wán zhuō mí cáng

The child is hiding behind the shadow of a tree and playing hide-and-seek.

Core concept

A visible or invisible remainder that takes the shape of its source and points back to it.

Common phrases

  • 躲在影子后面duǒ zài yǐng zi hòu miàn

    hide behind a shadow

  • 脸上有影子liǎn shàng yǒu yǐng zi

    have a shadow on one's face

  • 树下的影子shù xià de yǐng zi

    shadow under a tree

Similar words

影yǐng: A dark shape or outline formed when a person or object blocks light.
身影shēn yǐng: A person's visible outline or silhouette, especially when seen from far away or in dim light.
阴影yīn yǐng: A darkened area on an object or place where light does not reach.

Definition in Chinese

物体挡住光线，在地面或墙等表面上形成的黑色轮廓或像，也可指人的身影或事物留下的痕迹。wù tǐ dǎng zhù guāng xiàn zài dì miàn huò qiáng děng biǎo miàn shàng xíng chéng de hēi sè lún kuò huò xiàng yě kě zhǐ rén de shēn yǐng huò shì wù liú xià de hén jì

Word origin

影子 (yǐngzi, "shadow") is 影 (yǐng, "shadow") plus 子 (zi, "noun-forming suffix"), so a basic image of a cast shape extends naturally to a person's likeness or an enduring sign.

Usage tips

  • The word can describe resemblance or influence in a person, not only something visible on a wall or ground, which helps interpret figurative conversation.

Other meanings

  • figurenoun
  • tracenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word