shady

(town) + (now) + (decapitated cow)
★★★☆☆
11 strokes
DUPE
Unlike the OTHER shadow kanji (影) which is literal, this shadow kanji (陰) is more figurative: things that are shady, dark, secret, or hidden.

陰 is also the kanji used for naughty bits.

Onyomi

IN

Mnemonic

Right now this town is full of decapitated cows, lurking IN the shadows.

Kunyomi

かげ shadow, both literally , and more likely, metaphorically. If someone is operating shady deals from the shadows, you use this kanji. 1/2 KANA
★★★☆☆

Jukugo

xxx の お陰で(おかげで)

thanks to XXX ★★★☆☆ 1/2 KANA

thanks to XXX (despite 陰  being the 'bad shadow' kanji, お陰で is not only used with bad things. You can say, thanks to you, I have mastered the techniques of Double Dutch, and it would be fine.)

陰気(いんき)

gloomy ★★☆☆☆
(shady) + (mood) = 陰気 (gloomy)

gloomy or dark atmosphere

陰謀(いんぼう)

conspiracy ★☆☆☆☆
(shady) + (plot) = 陰謀 (conspiracy )

陰部(いんぶ)

sex organs ☆☆☆☆☆ NP
(shady) + (section) = 陰部 (sex organs)

sex organs (no stars- people usually say 性器 せいき!)

陰核(いんかく)

clitoris ☆☆☆☆☆ SARC
(shady) + (nucleus) = 陰核 (clitoris)

clitoris - not a word you'd use in most conversations, but I'm including it anyway because the literal translation is so irresistable: hidden nucleus! How boss is that?

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
shady TOWN
shadow HAIR

That part of TOWN is shady so don't go there.

Your HAIR casts a shadow on your face.

Synonyms

depression
憂鬱    落ち込む    気分がしずむ    きが滅入る    陰気    ふてくされる うかない
shade
影    陰