戊 (wù) — the fifth of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干), used in the traditional Chinese calendar and cycle of sixty
Definition
One of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干), the fifth in the sequence, traditionally paired with Earth (土) in the five elements. Used in the sexagenary cycle of 60 years together with the Earthly Branches (地支).
noun
the fifth of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干), used in the traditional Chinese calendar and cycle of sixty
Easily confused
- 茂màolook-alikeluxuriant, lush, profuse (bound form, used in compounds)
- 物wùsound-alikething, object
- 成chénglook-alike(classifier) tenth, ten percent (used after a number 1–9)
- 雾wùsound-alikefog, mist
- 误wùsound-aliketo mistake (in understanding or action); to mis-
- 勿wùsound-alikedo not (formal, literary, used in signs and written prohibitions)
Examples
- 、、、、戊、、、、、癸。Shí tiān gān bāo kuò jiǎ, yǐ, bǐng, dīng, wù, jǐ, gēng, xīn, rén, guǐ.The ten Heavenly Stems include jiǎ, yǐ, bǐng, dīng, wù, jǐ, gēng, xīn, rén, guǐ.
- 戊。wù Zài wǔ xíng zhōng shǔ tǔ.Wù corresponds to earth in the five elements.
- 戊。Gǔ dài yòng wù hé dì zhī dā pèi lái jì nián.In ancient times, wù was combined with earthly branches to record years.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.
戊 originally looked like a halberd.
Appears in
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