巳 (sì) — the sixth of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), associated with the Snake and the time period 9–11 AM

Definition

巳 (sì) is the sixth of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), paired with the Snake and the 9–11 AM time slot — used in Chinese astrology, the sexagenary cycle, and traditional timekeeping.

noun
the sixth of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), associated with the Snake and the time period 9–11 AM
Easily confused

Examples

  • 巳。
    sì Shì shí èr dì zhī de dì liù gè.
    巳 is the sixth of the twelve Earthly Branches.
  • 巳。
    sì Shí shì shàng wǔ jiǔ diǎn dào shí yī diǎn.
    The 巳 period is from 9 to 11 AM.
  • 巳。
    Shé nián duì yìng de dì zhī shì sì.
    The Year of the Snake corresponds to the Earthly Branch 巳.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

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.

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