甲きのえ午うま

also: こうご

Meanings

Wood Horse (31st year of the sexagenary cycle)

Refers to the 31st term of the traditional 60-year cycle (干支), combining the Heavenly Stem 甲 (きのえ, Wood) and the Earthly Branch 午 (うま, Horse). Used in historical and astrological contexts, e.g., for years like 1954, 2014, 2074.

Kanji

甲armor, high (voice), A grade
午noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM

Related words

干支えと
干支 is the general term for the sexagenary cycle or the Chinese zodiac system. 甲午 is one specific term within that cycle.

Written forms

甲午Usage100%
- きのえうま
  Standard kanji form for the sexagenary cycle term. The reading きのえうま is the native Japanese reading; こうご is the Sino-Japanese reading, less common in modern contexts.
- こうご
こうご
Sino-Japanese reading of 甲午. Rarely used in modern Japanese; the native reading きのえうま is preferred.

Etymology

From the combination of the Heavenly Stem 甲 (きのえ, Wood) and the Earthly Branch 午 (うま, Horse) in the traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle adopted in Japan.