1.
shade; shaded area
An area not directly reached by light, providing shade or cover.
木の陰で休む。
To rest in the shade of a tree.
建物の陰に隠れた。
I hid behind the building.
真夏の日差しが強く、陰のない道を歩くのは辛かった。
The midsummer sun was intense, and walking on a road with no shade was tough.
2.
behind the scenes; in secret; behind someone's back
Out of sight, in a hidden or covert manner. Used to describe actions done secretly or support given from behind the scenes.
陰で悪口を言う。
To say bad things behind someone's back.
彼の成功の陰には妻の支えがあった。
Behind his success was the support of his wife.
陰で努力している人がいるからこそ、このイベントは成功した。
This event succeeded precisely because there were people working hard behind the scenes.
SIMILAR WORDS:
陰 and 影 are homophones written with different kanji:
- 陰: shade, hidden side (the area blocked from light; the unseen side)
- 影: shadow, silhouette (the dark shape cast by an object in light)
In practice, 陰 is about concealment and the hidden side, while 影 is about the visible dark shape.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 木の陰 (shade of a tree)
- 陰で (behind the scenes; in secret)
- 陰で支える (to support from behind the scenes)
- 陰口 (gossip; talking behind someone's back)
- ～の陰に (behind ~; in the shadow of ~)
SET PHRASES:
- 陰ながら応援する (to cheer someone on quietly/from the sidelines)