also: ひのえ
third rank; third class; third party
Only with reading へい
Used in grading, ranking, or contractual contexts to denote the third level or party, often in contrast with 甲 (first) and 乙 (second).
See also: 甲乙丙丁
In this contract, he is designated as the third party.
The results were evaluated in three grades: A, B, and C.
The contract was signed by three parties: Party A, Party B, and Party C.
third sign of the Chinese calendar
Refers to the third celestial stem (丙) in the sexagenary cycle, often read ひのえ. Used in traditional contexts like dates, directions, and fortune-telling.
This year is the year of the Fire Horse (hinoe-uma).
His grade was a C.
Standard kanji form for the third rank/class meaning. Reading へい is the most common.
Reading ひのえ is used specifically for the third sign of the Chinese calendar (sexagenary cycle).
The kanji 丙 originally depicted a fish tail and was borrowed for its sound to represent the third celestial stem. Its use in ranking and the calendar is a conventional extension.