乙巳 (yǐ sì) — 42nd year of the Sexagenary Cycle (in traditional Chinese calendar; e.g., 1905, 1965, 2025)

Definition

乙巳 (yǐ sì) is the 42nd year-name in the 60-year 干支 cycle, paired with the Snake (蛇). It recurs every 60 years (1905, 1965, 2025…).

noun
42nd year of the Sexagenary Cycle (in traditional Chinese calendar; e.g., 1905, 1965, 2025)

Examples

  • 乙巳。
    Tā chū shēng zài yǐ sì nián.
    He was born in the Yisi year.
  • 乙巳。
    yǐ sì Nián duì yìng de shēng xiào shì shé.
    The zodiac animal corresponding to the Yisi year is the snake.
  • 乙巳。
    Zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng yǐ sì nián fā shēng le yì xiē zhòng dà shì jiàn.
    Some major events occurred in the Yisi year in Chinese history.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乙 is obscure, with old suggestions including a plant trying to sprout, a fish's intestine or gill bone, or flowing water.

Open 乙 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

Some sources read the shape of 巳 as a picture of a fetus; others read it as a picture of a snake.

Open 巳 →

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