癸
10th calendar sign
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
- みずのと
Meaning
癸 is the tenth of the traditional sexagenary cycle signs, used in East Asian calendars and divination. Its standalone meaning is limited to this calendrical role.
Most common words using 癸
- 癸き
10th in rank; tenth sign of the Chinese calendar
- 癸丑みずのとうし
Water Ox (50th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1913, 1973, 2033)
- 癸亥みずのとい
Water Boar (60th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1923, 1983, 2043)
- 癸卯みずのとう
Water Rabbit (40th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1963, 2023, 2083)
- 癸巳みずのとみ
Water Snake (30th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1953, 2013, 2073)
- 癸未みずのとひつじ
Water Sheep (20th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1943, 2003, 2063)
- 癸酉みずのととり
Water Rooster (10th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1933, 1993, 2053)
Study
Etymology
The origin of 癸 is uncertain. It is an ancient cyclical character whose pictographic or component history is not clearly established.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 癶 looks like a pair of legs stepping forward, and the bottom 天 suggests heaven or a great person. Picture the tenth sign stepping into the celestial order of the calendar cycle.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, imagine a key (キー) unlocking the tenth position in the cycle: key -> キ, and the tenth sign clicks into place.