yang

Pronunciation

• IPA: /jæŋ/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Chinese 陽 (yáng), said to mean bright, male, daylight or the sun, as well as positive and the male genitals.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Chinese philosophy, the masculine or positive principle: 1671.^[5][2][3]

Semantic evolution

It is paired with yin, the feminine principle, as in yin and yang;^[6][5] yang-yin is recorded from 1959.^[5]

Timeline

• 1671 – yang.^[5][3]
• 1959 – yang-yin.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. In Chinese philosophy, the active, masculine, positive principle, which with yin makes up the universe.

Related words

• yin
• tao

Usage notes

In Berkshire and Devon dialect to yang was to say irritating things, to mock.^[7]

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)