陰日向かげひなた

か

げ

ひ

な

た

Meanings

double-faced; two-faced; duplicitous

Describes a person who acts differently depending on the situation, often with a negative connotation of insincerity or hypocrisy. The word literally combines 'shade' and 'sunny place', evoking someone who changes like light and shadow.

彼かれは陰日向かげひなたのある人にん間げんだ。
He is a two-faced person.
陰日向かげひなたのない態たい度どで接せっする。
Treat others with a straightforward attitude.

Kanji

陰shade, yin, negative
日day, sun, Japan
向yonder, facing, beyond

Related words

二に枚まい舌じた
二枚舌 refers specifically to saying contradictory things, i.e., being 'fork-tongued', while 陰日向 emphasizes a broader duplicity of character, changing one's demeanor or attitude depending on the situation.
裏うら表おもて
裏表 also means 'two-faced' or 'double-dealing', but can be used more broadly for the contrast between one's public and private selves. 陰日向 has a stronger image of shifting between light and shadow, often implying opportunism.

Built from

陰かげ+日向ひなた

Written forms

陰日向かげひなたUsage36%
Standard kanji spelling.
陰かげひなたUsage36%
search-only kanji form
Search-only mixed kanji-kana form.
かげひなたUsage27%

Etymology

Compound of 陰 (kage, 'shade') and 日向 (hinata, 'sunny place'). The combination metaphorically describes someone who changes their behavior like the contrast between shade and sunlight.