Shadow kanji

[derick78b]

Hey, can you please tell me which kanji should I use for "shadow"?

I've seen 4 or 5 of them, that's confusing.

影
陰
翳
蔭


Thank you.

 

[Bulbasaur]

陰 I'd use this one myself - it is what is in the dictionary for shadow specifically.

What are you trying to do?

 

[Toritoribe]

"Shadow" as the general meaning "a dark shape made by something that blocks the sun or a light" is 影. The rest three also have the reading かげ, but the meanings are different form 影. They are used for "behind" or "gloomy", for instance.

e.g.
彼はビルの陰に隠れていた。
He hid behind a building.