yin and yang

UK: /jɪn/ US: /ˈjɪn ənd ˈjæŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

yin and yang /ˈyɪn ənd ˈyæŋ/  n. [uncountable]

1. Eastern Religions, Philosophy (in Chinese philosophy and religion) two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin,) and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang,) whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

yin′ and yang′, 

1. Eastern Religions, Philosophy (in Chinese philosophy and religion) two principles, one negative, dark, and feminine (yin,) and one positive, bright, and masculine (yang,) whose interaction influences the destinies of creatures and things.

• Chinese yīn-yáng
• 1930–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Yin and Yang / jɪn/ noun

1. two complementary principles of Chinese philosophy: Yin is negative, dark, and feminine, Yang positive, bright, and masculine. Their interaction is thought to maintain the harmony of the universe and to influence everything within it

Etymology: from Chinese (Peking) yin dark + yang bright